Description

In September 2002, during the annual meeting of French biosphere reserves, it was decided to mount a research programme around shrub encroachment in partnership with the four biosphere reserve managers. In the Iroise Sea biosphere reserve, an interdisciplinary research team was made up of researchers from the University of Western Brittany (UBO) (ecologist, geographer, ethnologist, computer scientist) joined by an economist from the National Natural History Museum (MNHN) and an ornithologist from the Study Centre for the Ushant Environment (CEMO). Thanks to funding from the IFB, M. Etienne proposed gathering each individual's approach by co-constructing a multi-agent system representing the interactions between natures and societies in the land part of the island.

The approach was broken down into five phases:

1.  Co-constructing the conceptual model using the ARDI method by identifying the main stakeholders, resources and dynamics taking part in the shrub encroachment process on the island;
2.  Implementing the multi-agent model and identifying interactions required to deepen available knowledge;
3.  Developing complementary interdisciplinary research on the interaction between grazing and shrub encroachment, turf harvesting (turf is used for the preparation of a traditional stew) and resident perception of the wasteland;
4.  Development of scenarios on the likely changes in the island depending on whether or not livestock rearing is maintained or whether or not biodiversity issues are taken into account;
5.  Situated simulation exercise for the island residents on a virtual territory but nevertheless close to their reality, to make them react collectively to the shrub dynamics based on a role-plating game involving several types of residents on the island (elected representative, biodiversity reserve official, cattle farmer, native of Ushant , holiday home owner, etc.).

The approach resulted in close and fruitful collaboration between researchers from different disciplines and the implementation of interdisciplinary work culminating in crossed perspectives on the question of the biodiversity and access to resources. It has been extended into work on opening to the general public (project with the Océanopolis Park ) and towards teaching (regular use of the BrouteLaMotte role-playing game).