The Wet Tropics Management Authority facilitated the P3DM exercise using IUCN (UNDP GEF-SGP) funding and drawing on technical support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA).
Participatory three dimensional modelling is a community based mapping technique that uses local people’s knowledge, in particular Indigenous people’s knowledge, to share their cultural landscape using 3D models.
The Mandingalbay Yidinji community built the tables, assembled the model, made decisions about what to show on their map ‘legend’ and finally mapped out their knowledge.
History and some loss of language has impeded the passing down of Indigenous knowledge to younger generations in the culturally appropriate manner. The P3DM project has encouraged the Mandingalbay Yidinji people to share stories about their country and people, and most importantly to educate their youth.
Representatives from the Mandingalbay Yidinji people will be presenting their project at the World Parks Congress being held in Sydney in November.