The Panaikang Maros Community Forum Strengthens Regional Legitimacy Through Participatory Mapping

The Panaikang Community Forum was formed by the people of Panaikang Village, Leang-Leang Subdistrict, Bantimurung District, Maros Regency. The association was formed in response to the National Park's plan to take over the community's living space for conservation purposes. The people of Panaikang Village have lived in the karst mountainous region of Maros for generations, living as farmers who cultivate rice fields in traditional ways. The planned expansion of the National Park's conservation area clearly threatens their living space.

To address the National Park plan, the Panaikang Community Forum conducted participatory mapping. Training, including verification and validation of the mapping results, took place between January and May 2025. The site survey and coordinate collection involved 12 previously trained individuals. These twelve individuals were proficient in using satellite navigation systems (GPS), establishing boundaries, identifying existing resources, and recording conditions.

Through participatory mapping, the Panaikang Community Forum has successfully identified areas overlapping with the planned 500-hectare National Park expansion. This is crucial for strengthening their ownership of the area in the face of the project. Understanding the area also benefits community management efforts. Furthermore, the mapping activity has increased the involvement of women and vulnerable groups in strengthening social legitimacy and inclusiveness in area management. This program impacted 2.462 individuals, with a gender breakdown of 895 men, 951 women, and 616 youth, primarily in the Leang-Leang sub-district.