Supporting indigenous land rights at global forums in Colombia
In June, Kadaster International took part in 2 major global events in Colombia: the LAND-at-Scale Exchange and the Global Land Forum 2025. Both events addressed how indigenous communities are shaping the future of land governance. A wonderful opportunity to help showcase their knowledge.
Indigenous mapping in the spotlight
At the LAND-at-Scale Exchange in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Kadaster facilitated a technical workshop with the Arhuaco community. Participants learned how the Arhuaco use high-accuracy GPS tools and traditional mapping methods to document their land. Two Arhuaco mappers shared how their work evolved from basic data collection to creating detailed maps and editing data in-office.
More than just an asset
Their goal is to legally register unrecognized plots within their ancestral territory by making use of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) tailored to Indigenous needs. The workshop emphasised the importance of integrating intercultural perspectives into land administration efforts. And to recognise land not merely as an asset, but as a living space tied to memory, identity, and spirituality.
Data as a tool for inclusion
During the Global Land Forum, Kadaster International and the University of Twente (ITC) led a second workshop. This session focused on designing mobile data collection forms based on LADM principles. The approach emphasized community participation and showed how data can support inclusive decision-making and fair land governance.
Representatives from Colombia’s National Land Agency and Topographic Institute also joined the workshop, underlining the importance of collaboration between communities and government institutions.
Looking ahead: the Booster Project
These events brought together experts, communities, and governments to share knowledge on land rights and governance. It also offered us a moment to reflect on progress and challenges in Colombia. We continue our efforts through the Land-at-Scale Booster Project, which aims to deepen the impact of land governance efforts and continue building bridges between local knowledge and institutional frameworks.
More information
- Read more about our project in Colombia on our project page.