Sustainable Use of Natural Resources - UDRN

Areas of expertise

The Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Group develops its expertise in three specific areas, in interrelation:

Monitoring and study of wild vertebral terrestrial fauna, using the following methods and technologies:

• Collection of indirect traces
• Telemetry (GPS, radio-tracking, etc.)
• Photographic trapping
• The capture and passive or active marking of animals
• Direct observation (transects, night vision, etc.) or indirect observation (drones)
• Three-dimensional trajectography of chiropterans (bats)

These techniques are used to determine the presence of species at a study site, estimate their abundance, study and model the spatial and temporal dynamics of populations, and highlight potential conflicts with human activities.

Diagnostic studies on human uses and practices to identify levers for action to foster conflict resolution and social acceptability of conservation and sustainable nature management projects.

In a non-exhaustive way, we will adopt:

• Diagnostic studies to identify conflict drivers and propose conflict minimisation measures in the following areas: conflicts between fauna/traffic, fauna/agriculture, forest/game, fauna/public health, fauna/infrastructure, fauna/recreation.
• Studies to assess the sustainability of hunting practices combining the assessment of ecological sustainability and socio-economic sustainability.
• Natural space attendance studies to propose measures to improve the management of the public in a natural environment and to minimise the negative impacts of such use and to reduce the levels of conflict between users.
• Processes to support participatory approaches to promote social acceptance of conservation projects.

Studies to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts associated with the development and management of protected areas (parks and reserves).

These interdisciplinary studies use the emerging field of impact assessment – not to be confused with impact studies – based on counterfactual approaches and the development of theories of change. These impact assessments are intended to identify trade-offs that must be made when conflicts between environmental and social objectives are identified.