Observatory of Sustainable and Healthy Territories (OTSS) GIS: Geo-Information for the Sustainability of Traditional Communities in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The social practices of traditional communities have low environmental and health impacts. This is important to minimize climate changes and guarantee the health of communitarians. The sustainability of traditional communities has a direct connection with the knowledge about their territories and the constitutive social practices of their territoriality. Building a Spatial Database generates knowledge about their territories and enables carrying out a range of geospatial analyses to support communication and decision making. This paper describes the first step in building a Geodatabase to support the management, planning and communication actions within OTSS, a partnership between FIOCRUZ and the Traditional Communities Forum of the Municipalities of Angra dos Reis, Paraty and Ubatuba in Brazil. Three lines of work were developed: (1) Geodatabase Design—geodata was arranged in different scales, comprising basic and thematic secondary data, as well as primary data relevant for the management and the political action of the communities. The information contained in the system was selected together with representatives from the communities. (2) Geodatabase Analysis and Management—continuous data input from traditional populations and technical teams was made. Analysis of the geodata provided solutions to spatial questions posed by project members and by communities, especially about territorial disputes. (3) Geo-information Availability—preparation of maps, charts, spatial files and other media to support the management of the project, the traditional communities and the implementation of correlated projects.