Martine Antona

Contexts and dependencies in the ComMod processes

The ComMod approach involves the interaction of local actors, heterogeneous social groups with different rationales and interests, and researchers and institutional stakeholders (i.e. donors, sponsors, administrators and experts), whose socio-political rationales and biophysical intervention framework are just as varied. The project, or intervention within this ‘group of actors’ (Henocque and Denis 2001) gives rise to dialogue, confrontation, combined construction of the posed problem and its definition, and a description and understanding of processes involved, be they social, economic or environmental.

The Companion Modelling Approach: Dealing with Multiple Scales and Multiple Levels of Organization

The companion modelling approach initially was conceived and tested at a local level because of the focus on resource users. Based on the premise that different stakeholders involved in resource management operate with different areas of reference and time scales in mind, the approach focuses on the representation of this diversity in its tools and in the form of coordination workshops (d’Aquino et al. 2002b; Etienne et al. 2008c; Le Page et al. 2001). Like many participatory approaches developed at the local level, the approach quickly confronted issues posed by the institutionalization of participatory processes (Pimbert 2004): the institutional integration of collective learning developed at a local level, taking into account stakeholders not present at the local level, and the need to interact directly with regulators and decision-makers at higher levels. A study group was formed within the ComMod network, in parallel to the ADD-ComMod project, to discuss the novel challenges raised by the application of companion modelling to several organizational levels of action and decision and by changing scales in a companion modelling approach.

Emergence et mise en politique des services environnementaux et écosystémiques

Reposant sur le principe des transactions volontaires, les paiements pour les services environnementaux impliquent des negociations, posant de ce fait differentes questions telles que : quels sont les acteurs impliques, quels sont les contrats signes (quel contenu juridique, technique ?), les contrats doivent-ils etre a caractere incitatif ou contraignant ? a quelles echelles le tout doit etre applique ? Du fait de lemphase environnementale mise de lavant par la notion de service environnemental, des questions se posent sur les liens entre services environnementaux et territoires : compromis (trade-off) entre services environnementaux au sein des territoires, questions foncieres et conflits sociaux lies au foncier ou aux impacts environnementaux de lactivite agricole. Confrontes a des interets economiques de court terme et dans un contexte daccroissement des inegalites sociales, les notions de services ecosystemiques et environnementaux sont enchâssees dans des processus multi-niveaux, multi-acteurs, de regulation par le marche et/ou par les politiques publiques. Ces processus impliquent de nouvelles formes de gouvernance qui se construisent et sont encore a inventer. Dans ce numero de [VertigO] - la revue electronique en sciences de lenvironnement, les articles publies apportent des enseignements sur les processus scientifiques et politiques en emergence autour de la mise en oeuvre des notions de services ecosystemiques et services environnementaux. Il ouvre egalement de nouveaux champs de recherche. (Resume dauteur)