Data quality

Only data from individual experts and established organizations that are well-recognized and respected in the land rights community – and are vetted by the LandMark team - are displayed on the platform.

To ensure transparency, the name of each source or contributing individual or organization is available in the attribute table, accessible by clicking on the specific geographic feature in the interactive map, and in the Data Sources page. These parties are fully responsible for the accuracy and quality of the data they provide.

The LandMark team reviews all data for quality and consistency before the information is posted on the platform, reviews include:

• Engaging with country experts to review boundary data before it is posted.
• Data acquired from the literature must be published by reputable organizations and/or appear in peer-reviewed journals that have their own quality-control processes.
• Data from LandMark-initiated research is also subject to a quality-control process that involves internal and external reviews.

All data layers displayed on LandMark are associated with detailed documentation and/or data collection/analysis methods to allow for traceability and verification of the information. Documentation for all layers includes the source of the data and the data provider. The attributes for community level data also includes, when available, the methods of collection (e.g., hand-held GPS, transcribed from land title) and the scale at which data were mapped, to help convey the accuracy and quality of the spatial information (see Community Level Data and Methods and Data Quality Standards). The methods and criteria behind the National level data layers are described in detailed documentation available in National Level Data and Methods.

Community-level and national-level data are updated as new information is received from data providers. The date of the data is available in the attribute information for all data layers.

The maps displayed on LandMark should be treated as a first, and not a singular or final, step in assessing the locations of lands held or used by Indigenous Peoples and communities. Many Indigenous Peoples and local communities have not mapped their lands, and LandMark does not include all maps that have been prepared by governments, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, communities or other stakeholders. Moreover, boundaries can change over time and with changing local circumstances. Proper due diligence to verify boundaries (e.g., groundtruthing, site visits, interviews) is necessary for any actions that may affect Indigenous Peoples and communities. Please refer to the Terms of Service for more information on the use of data and information displayed on LandMark.

Additional detail on the data quality standards for community-level data can be found in the following document.