Mapping the Darién Gap
Resource Type
Duration
00:10:35Description
This video describes how Indigenous communities from the tropical rainforest of Darién, Panama, use drones to map their lands. The communities use these maps to protect their territories from outside incursions and to design sustainable land-use plans.
The Darién Gap is a remote tropical forest that has been home to Indigenous people for thousands of years. As pressures from outside human development encroach on the forest, these communities are protecting their land using a cutting-edge tool: drones. Through a partnership with a nonprofit organization, the Rainforest Foundation, they map their community boundaries to secure land titles, create sustainable land-use plans, and monitor their forests against logging and ranching.
The accompanying “Student Worksheet” incorporates concepts and information from the video.
An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.
Student Learning Targets
- Examine research practices.
- Develop scientific explanations and justify claims using evidence.
- Describe how mapping can inform sustainable development of protected lands.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
drone, indigenous people, land incursion, sustainable land use
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS2.A, HS-LS2.C, HS-LS2-2, HS-ESS3.C, HS-ESS3-4; SEP4, SEP6
AP Biology (2019)
ENE-4.A, ENE-4.B, SYI-2.A, SYI-2.B; SP1, SP2, SP4, SP6
IB Biology (2016)
C.3, C.4
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 5.2, 5.15, 5.17
Learning Objectives & Practices: EIN-2.B, STB-1.E, STB-1.G, SP2, SP7
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
1.1, 1.4, 2.2, 3.3, 8.2
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9-12.7, WHST.9-12.1
Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1; MP2, MP5
Vision and Change (2009)
CC5; DP2