climate change impact and adaptation

Climate change: impact and adaptation

Expertise of the scientific communityin the Languedoc-Roussillon region (France)

Number 20

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

2

Agropolis is an international campus devoted to agricultural and

environmental sciences. There is significant potential for scientific

and technological expertise: more than 2,700 scientists in over

75 research units in Montpellier and Languedoc-Roussillon,

including 400 scientists conducting research in 60 countries.

Agropolis International is structured around a broad range of research

themes corresponding to the overall scientific, technological and

economic issues of development:

Agronomy, cultivated plants and cropping systems

Animal production and health

Biodiversity and Aquatic ecosystems

Biodiversity and Land ecosystems

Economics, societies and sustainable development

Environmental technologies

Food: nutritional and health concerns

Genetic resources and integrative plant biology

Grapevine and Wine, regional specific supply chain

Host-vector-parasite interactions and infectious diseases

Modelling, spatial information, biostatistics

Water: resources and management

Agropolis International promotes the capitalization and enhancement

of knowledge, personnel training and technology transfer. It is a hub for

visitors and international exchanges, while promoting initiatives based

on multilateral and collective expertise and contributing to the scientific

and technological knowledge needed for preparing development

policies.

Agropolis International brings together authorities of

research and higher education in Montpellier and Languedoc-Roussillon in partnership with local communities, companies

and regional enterprises and in close cooperation with

international institutions. This scientific community

has one main objectivethe economic and social

development of Mediterranean and tropical regions

Agropolis International is an international space open to all interested socioeconomic

development stakeholders in fields associated with

agriculture, food production, biodiversity, environment and

rural societies.

AGROPOLISINTERNATIONALagriculture food biodiversity environment

sum

mar

yC

limat

e ch

ange

: im

pac

t an

d a

dap

tati

on

3

Climate change:impact and adaptation

4Foreword

52Climate change

& interactions between organisms

5Topics covered

by the research teams

8Climate change

& resources, territories and development

26Climate change

& biodiversity and ecosystems

28Biodiversity and continental ecosystems

40Biodiversity and marine ecosystems

86List of acronyms and abbreviations

68Climate change

& agricultural and livestock production systems

Climate change impact and adaptation research expertise

in Languedoc-Roussillon

This Dossier showcases research structures based in Languedoc-Roussillon Region whose activities are focused on addressing challenges encountered in studies on climate change impacts and adaptations: 46 research units (UR, depending on a single

supervisory authority), or joint research units (UMR, depending on several supervisory bodies), members of the Agropolis International research community

2 laboratories of excellence (LabEx Agro Agronomy and Sustainable Development, and LabEx CeMEB - Centre Mditerranen de lEnvironnement et de la Biodiversit) and a federative structure (IM2E: Montpellier Institute for Water and Environment) that manage the scientific activities of some research units on these topics

5 research infrastructures of national or European scope that are devoted to observations in the natural environment or in controlled experiments: the Observatoire de Recherche Mditerranen de lEnvironnement (OSU OREME), the Oceanic Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer (OOB), one of the three national branches of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC-France), the Mediterranean Platform for Marine Ecosystem Experimental Research (MEDIMEER) and the European Ecotron of Montpellier

5 foreign or international partners set up in the region that conduct scientific activities in collaboration with Agropolis members: the CGIAR Consortium (international organization), external laboratories without walls of EMBRAPA (Brazil) and INTA (Argentina), and subsidiary laboratories of CSIRO (Australia) and USDA/ARS (USA).

Scientific research carried out by the regional research stakeholders on climate change impacts and adaptations is very broad in scope. This Dossierwhich is far from being comprehensiveaims to give readers an overview of this research by highlighting the stakeholders involved and giving a few practical examples of their research activities. These are presented under four major themes: Climate change & resources, territories

and development Climate change & biodiversity and ecosystems Climate change & interactions between organisms Climate change & agricultural and livestock

production systems

Agropolis International members also offer a broad range of diploma training-education courses (2-8 years of higher education) in which the climate change issue is taken into account in the light of the most recent advanced research on the topic.

The list of training and education courses is available online (www.agropolis.org/training/).

Cover photo: Savannah landscape, Ambalavao, Hautes Terres (Madagascar) M. Grouzis IRDThe information presented in this Dossier is valid as of 01/02/2015.

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

4

Foreword

he year 2015 is marked by a series of events related to climate change. This priority issue is covered at the Salon International de lAgriculture

in Paris (February), the third Global Science Conference on Climate Smart Agriculture in Montpellier (March) and at the UNESCO* Our Common Future under Climate Change Conference (July), which will provide an occasion for the scientific preparation of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC** in Paris (December). Climate change will also be a focus of concern at the 3rd UNCCD*** Scientific Conference taking place at Cancn, Mexico in early March. As the laboratories and research organizations established in Languedoc-Roussillon Region are recognizedvia the high level of their publicationsas the leading French scientific research community in the fields of agronomy, environment and biodiversity, we felt they warranted contribution to this years discussions and debates through a publication presenting their teams and research. This 20th Dossiers dAgropolis International issue regarding impact and adaptation to climate change showcases the work of this community!

Research units constituting the Agropolis scientific community, representing French and foreign institutions, conduct highly multidisciplinary research using integrated approaches that are particularly relevant with regard to agriculture and natural resources issues. They participate in many national and international networks, associations and learned societies, all of which offer them a top quality scientific environment for developing these approaches. The regional scientific community therefore has the expertise and tools necessary to contribute to the assessment of climate change impacts and associated adaptation needs.

The 5th IPCC**** Report is in line with the previous findings of the Panel, confirming their conclusions and strengthening the hypotheses, which are no longer seriously questionedglobal warming is now an established fact and an unprecedented number of associated changes have already been observed. These changes have profound direct and indirect impacts, raising critical concerns for human societies. The preservation and evolution of our resources remain in question and a focus of considerable apprehension. Alongside these profound changes, societies are tapping often already degraded and weakened ecosystems to an increasing extent. The development trajectories have thus placed populations or activity sectors in situations of high vulnerability regarding climate change and its impact on agricultural activities, ecosystems and natural resources.

* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization** United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change*** United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification**** Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Hence, it is not so much climate change processes sensu stricto that are studied here, but rather their effects on the environment and production systems. The aim is to be able to foresee future changes and design intervention methods or adjustments to be made in order to avoid unwanted situations, according to the concept of adaptive management.

This might lead one to think that the issue is essentially approached from an adaptation perspective, suggesting that there is no place for mitigation approaches. However, scientific reasoning does not differentiate these two aspects of the same issuecontrary to political debates that confront them for strategic purposes without any connection with the reality of the phenomenon. When, for instance, studying livestock farming systems, are we not concerned with both mitigation and adaptation?

This Dossier is organized in four main sections that address issues from a systemic standpoint. The first part is focused on the preservation and use of resources at territorial management scalesfunctioning of aquatic systems and watersheds, water uses, the role and status of forest areas, observation and information platforms, social forms and conditions of territorial and resource governance. The second part deals with ecosystems and the biodiversity that sustains their functionality. This pertains to continental ecosystems, studied using current or past indicators in order to assess their dynamics, as well as the marine environmentboth coastal and pelagicfrom fish populations to phytoplankton elements. The next part deals with the question of interactions within the host organismspest, parasite/pathogen or symbiotic organismsenvironment triad, including monitoring and control methods based on modelling of these interactions and design of new practices aimed at reducing risks induced by new dynamics associated with climate change. Finally, the last part is devoted to agricultural and livestock production, from genetic research to studies on landscape dimensions, so as to view production systems from a broader scope, thus leading to a better overall understanding of the processes under way and to proposals for action.

This overview confirms the importance of developing integrated approaches, from functional biology dimensions to approaches on territorial scales, while relying substantially on observations, experiments and modelling so as to gain a clear overall understanding of the processes involved and to act with discretion to mitigate and adapt to them.

Enjoy reading this directory of expertise in which abundant useful references and addresses can be found to fulfil everyones needs and expectations. It is also hoped that this Dossier clearly illustrates the high extent of mobilization of our scientific community to address the challenges of climate change currently under way.

Bernard Hubert, President of Agropolis International

T

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

5

Topics coveredby the research teams

(January 2015)

esearch units and teams mentioned in this Dossier are listed

in the following chart.

1. Climate change & resources, territories and development

2. Climate change & biodiversity and ecosystems

3. Climate change & interactions between organisms

4. Climate change & agricultural and livestock production systems

The page column indicates where the research unit or team is presented. Red dots () indicate the main topics focused on by the unit or team, while black dots () indicate secondary topics in which they are also involved.

R

Research teams and units Page 1 2 3 4

IM2E Montpellier Institute for Water and Environment(BRGM/CIRAD/CNRS/INRA/IRD/IRSTEA/AgroParisTech/CIHEAM-IAMM/EMA/ENSCM/Montpellier SupAgro/UAG/UM/UPVM/UPVD/UR)Director: ric Servat, [email protected]

10

UMR HSM HydroSciences Montpellier(IRD/UM/CNRS)Director: Patrick Seyler, [email protected]

12

UMR G-EAU Water Resource Management, Actors and Uses(AgroParisTech/CIRAD/IRD/IRSTEA/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Olivier Barreteau, [email protected]

13

UMR EMMAH Modelling Agricultural and Hydrological Systems in the Mediterranean Environment(INRA/UAPV)Director: Liliana Di Pietro, [email protected]

14

UMR GM Geosciences Montpellier(CNRS/UM)Director: Jean-Louis Bodinier, [email protected]

15

UR D3E/NRE Nouvelles Ressources en Eau et conomie(BRGM)Director: Jean-Christophe Marchal, [email protected]

16

UR LGEI Laboratoire de Gnie de lEnvironnement Industriel(EMA)Director: Yannick Vimont, [email protected]

17

UR GREEN Management of Renewable Resources and Environment(CIRAD)Director: Martine Antona, [email protected]

19

UMR ESPACE-DEV Lespace au service du dveloppement(IRD/UM/UR/UAG)Director: Frdrique Seyler, [email protected]

20

UMR TETIS Spatial Information and Analysis for Territories and Ecosystems(CIRAD/AgroParisTech/IRSTEA)Director: Jean Philippe Tonneau, [email protected]

21

UMR GRED Governance, Risk, Environment, Development(IRD/UPVM)Director: Bernard Moizo, [email protected]

22

UMR ART-Dev Actors, Resources and Territories in Development(CNRS/UPVM/CIRAD/UPVD/UM)Director: David Gibband, [email protected]

24

UMR LAMETA Laboratoire Montpellirain dconomie Thorique et Applique(INRA/Montpellier SupAgro/UM/CNRS)Director: Jean-Michel Salles, [email protected]

25

LabEx CeMEB Centre Mditerranen de lEnvironnement et de la Biodiversit(UM/UPVM/Montpellier SupAgro/CNRS/IRD/INRA/CIRAD/EPHE/INRAP/UNmes)Director: Pierre Boursot, [email protected]

29

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

6


UMR CEFE Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology(CNRS/UM/UPVM/EPHE/Montpellier SupAgro/IRD/INRA)Director: Richard Joffre, [email protected]

30

UMR ISEM Institute of Evolutionary Sciences of Montpellier(CNRS/UM/IRD/EPHE)Director: Agns Mignot, [email protected]

31

UMR AMAP Botany and Computational Plant Architecture(CIRAD/CNRS/INRA/IRD/UM)Director: Thierry Fourcaud, [email protected]

32

UR URFM cologie des Forts Mditerranennes(INRA)Director: ric Rigolot, [email protected]

34

UR B&SEF Tropical Forest Goods and Ecosystem Services(CIRAD)Director: Laurent Gazull, [email protected]

35

OSU OREME Observatoire de Recherche Mditerranen de lEnvironnement(UM/CNRS/IRD)Director: ric Servat, [email protected]

36

European Ecotron of Montpellier(CNRS)Director: Jacques Roy, [email protected]

37

OOB Oceanic Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Philippe Lebaron, [email protected]

41

UMR CEFREM Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnement Mditerranens(UPVD/CNRS)Director: Wolfgang Ludwig, [email protected]

42

UMR MARBEC Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation(IRD/Ifremer/UM/CNRS)Director: Laurent Dagorn, [email protected]

44

UMR LECOB Benthic Ecogeochemistry Laboratory(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Nadine Le Bris, [email protected]

45

UMR BIOM Integrative Biology of Marine Organisms(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Herv Moreau, [email protected]

46

UMR LOMIC Microbial Oceanography Laboratory(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Fabien Joux, [email protected]

47

USR LBBM Laboratory of Microbial Biodiversity and Biotechnology(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Marcelino Suzuki, [email protected]

48

UMS MEDIMEER Mediterranean Platform for Marine Ecosystem Experimental Research of OSU OREME(CNRS/UM/IRD)Director: ric Servat, [email protected]

49

EMBRC-France European Marine Biological Resource Centre at Banuyls-sur-Mer(UPMC/CNRS)Director: Philippe Lebaron, [email protected]

50

UMR CBGP Center for Biology and Management of Populations(INRA/CIRAD/IRD/Montpellier SupAgro)Directrice : Flavie Vanlerberghe, [email protected]

54

UMR LSTM Laboratory of Tropical and Mediterranean Symbioses(IRD/CIRAD/INRA/UM/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Robin Duponnois, [email protected]

55

UMR IPME Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes-Environnement(IRD/CIRAD/UM)Director: Valrie Verdier, [email protected]

56

UMR DGIMI Diversity, Genomes and Microorganism-Insect Interactions(INRA/UM)Director: Anne-Nathalie Volkoff, [email protected]

57

UR B-AMR Pests and Diseases: Risk Analysis and Control(CIRAD)Director: Christian Cilas, [email protected]

58

UR Plant Pathology(INRA)Director: Marc Bardin, [email protected]

59

UMR BGPI Biology and Genetics of Plant-Parasite Interactions(INRA/CIRAD/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Claire Neema, [email protected]

60

Topics covered by the research teams

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

7


CSIRO European Laboratory (Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation)(CSIRO)Director: Andy Sheppard, [email protected]

61

EBCL European Biological Control Laboratory of USDA/ARS (United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service)(USDA/ARS)Director: Lincoln Smith, [email protected]

62

UMR IHPE Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions(UM/UPVD/IFREMER/CNRS)Director: Guillaume Mitta, [email protected]

63

UMR MIVEGEC Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases(IRD/CNRS/UM)Director: Frdric Simard, [email protected]

64

UMR InterTryp Host-Vector-Parasite Interactions in Infections by Trypanosomatidae(CIRAD/IRD)Director: Philippe Solano, [email protected]

65

UMR CMAEE Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease Control(INRA/CIRAD)Director: Thierry Lefranois, [email protected]

66

UR AGIRS Animal and Integrated Risk Management(CIRAD)Director: Franois Roger, [email protected]

67

LabEx Agro Agronomy and Sustainable Development(CIHEAM-IAMM/CIRAD/CNRS/INRA/IRD/IRSTEA/Montpellier SupAgro/UAPV/UM/UPVD/UR)Director: Pascal Kosuth, [email protected]

70

UMR LISAH Laboratoire dtude des Interactions entre Sol-Agrosystme-Hydrosystme(INRA/IRD/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Jrme Molenat, [email protected]

71

UMR SYSTEM Tropical and Mediterranean Cropping System Functioning and Management(CIRAD/INRA/Montpellier SupAgro/CIHEAM-IAMM)Director: Christian Gary, [email protected]

72

UR HortSys Agro-ecological Functioning and Performances of Horticultural Cropping Systems(CIRAD)Director: ric Malezieux, [email protected]

73

UR AIDA Agro-ecology and Sustainable Intensifi cation of Annual Crops(CIRAD)Director: ric Scopel, [email protected]

74

UMR SELMET Mediterranean and Tropical Livestock Systems(CIRAD/INRA/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Alexandre Ickowicz, [email protected]

75

UMR Innovation Innovation and Development in Agriculture and the Agrifoods Sector(INRA/CIRAD/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Guy Faure, [email protected]

76

UMR Eco&Sols Functional Ecology & Bio-geochemistry of Soils & Agro-ecosystems(INRA/CIRAD/IRD/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Jean-Luc Chotte, [email protected]

77

UMR AGAP Genetic Improvement and Adaptation of Mediterranean and Tropical Plants(CIRAD/INRA/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Patrice This, [email protected]

78

UMR DIADE Crop Diversity, Adaptation and Development(IRD/UM)Director: Alain Ghesquiere, [email protected]

79

UMR LEPSE Laboratoire dcophysiologie des Plantes sous Stress Environnementaux(INRA/Montpellier SupAgro)Director: Bertrand Muller, [email protected]

80

UMR B&PMP Biochemistry and Plant Molecular Physiology(INRA/CNRS/Montpellier SupAgro/UM)Director: Alain Gojon, [email protected]

81

CGIAR ConsortiumDirector: Frank Rijsberman, [email protected] 83 EMBRAPA LABEX Europe External Laboratory Without Walls of EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuria)(EMBRAPA)Coordinator: Claudio Carvalho, [email protected]

84

LABINTEX External Laboratory Without Walls of INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnologa Agropecuaria)(INTA)Coordinator: Daniel Rearte, [email protected]

85

F. Anthelme IRD-UMR AMAP

Bofedal: montain ecosystem of high natural value in the tropical Andes (Bolivia).

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

8

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

9

Climate change & resources, territories

and development

s indicated in the last IPCC report, changes in rainfall patterns and melting snow and ice under way in many parts of the world are

disrupting hydrological systems and impacting the quality and quantity of water resources, as well as dynamics and resources in the critical zone for life on Earth. A marked depletion of renewable surface and groundwater resources is expected in most subtropical dryland regions during the 21st century. Moreover, current climate change patterns raise concerns that major problems could arise regarding relationships between societies and their environment, even threatening the ecosystem services from which they directly or indirectly benefit. The impacts of recent extreme weather eventsheat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, etc.highlight the high vulnerability and extent of exposure of ecosystems and human societies to current climate fluctuations.

In this setting, research must shed light on the major issues by: (1) focusing studies on the impact of climate change on socioecosystems at various territorial levels and characterization of their vulnerability; (2) drawing upin collaboration with the various stakeholders concernedadaptation measures to mitigate the effects of climate change; and (3) developing assessment and monitoring tools to support decision making and adaptive resource management.

The Agropolis scientific community is particularly well equipped to provide, along with its many national and international partners, answers or ideas regarding these key questions, which arise in different manners in various socioecosystems on all continents and at several territorial scales.

Water resource research is federated within the Montpellier Institute for Water and Environment (IM2E), which combines research in hydrology, geology, chemistry/biochemistry, microbiology, agronomy, engineering science, economics, social science, modelling, etc. Building on substantial technical resources, some of which are provided by OSU OREME (permanent observatories, joint research platforms, large-scale technical platforms, etc.), the scientific questions addressed by the Institutes research units are focused especially on:

Analysis of water resources, flows and transfers and fluctuations related to climate change: functioning of complex aquifers (especially karstic aquifers typically found in the Mediterranean region, e.g. through the LEZ-GMU project); scenarios regarding changes in hydrological systems associated with global change via modelling and prospective approaches (REMedHE and ClimAware projects); and the impact of climate change on water resource quality.

Analysis of the vulnerability of territories to climate change impacts: coastline modifications and flooding risks, impacts on freshwater ecosystems, societal risks associated with extreme events (floods, water shortages), the development of relevant monitoring and assessment indicators.

Adaptation challenges: many studies are also focused on water use efficiency in agriculture, at scales ranging from landscapes (e.g. in the ALMIRA project), plots (e.g. with agroecological practices) to plants (HydroRoot and LeafRoll projects); while other studies concern rainfed or irrigated agriculture (studies on the impact of irrigation on water resources, development and dissemination of innovations to reduce water consumption, tapping of new resources through, for instance, wastewater reuse). Other adaptation research is focused on resource management arrangements on political, economic and institutional levels through multi-stakeholder approaches and the development of decision-support tools.

Beyond water resources, the regional scientific community addresses the broader issue of the dynamics of nature-society interactions through natural resource management (soil, mineral resources and biodiversity) and the governance of territories and environments. In this area, the research aims to gain insight into relationships between societies and ecosystem services provided by their environment, their evolution with respect to global change, their vulnerability or conflictual nature and their adaptation and resilience capacities. Adaptation strategies are analysed by assessing linkages between global and local dynamics, between issues and stakeholdersindividuals, local, regional, national and international institutions (AFCAO, Of lands and waters, SERENA, EcoAdapt projects).

Finally, one of the driving forces of the regional scientific community is also the spatialization and historization of environmental knowledge for environmental monitoring and decision support, based on a range of methods: remote sensing and space observation, direct environmental observation, stakeholder surveys, data processing, development of indicators, knowledge and digital data modelling.

ric Servat (IM2E) & Nicolas Arnaud (OSU OREME)

A

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

10

Climate change & resources, territories

and development

become a leading European resource centre (training and research) attractive to both developed and developing countries.

The project implemented by IM2E is based on different areas of excellence shared by the scientific community that provide the basis for addressing primary challenges regarding sustainable ecosystem use and adaptation to climate change.

The aim is also to boost the production of innovations and research capacities in companies, and to put forward recommendations for institutions involved in public policy design, implementation and monitoring (ministries, water agencies local authorities).

IM2Es strengths and successes are based on the pooling of shared resources in many areas: training, technical and analytical platforms, observation and modelling resources. The aim of this federative structure, in the latter sector especially, is to develop complex and highly interactive hybrid models for the future.

Training has directly benefited from the emergence of IM2E, which is striving to foster relationships with companies and communities in order to enhance the employability of students who have received diplomas from its partner establishments and laboratories. IM2E also aims to internationalize the training, especially by ensuring that at least 30% of its students are foreign, while also hosting over 200 Masters and PhD students.

A federative structure that positions Languedoc-Roussillon as driving force for national water research

In view of the range of expertise and technology deployed by the Montpellier Institute for Water and Environment (IM2E BRGM, CIRAD, CNRS, INRA, IRD, IRSTEA, AgroParisTech, CIHEAM-IAMM, EMA, ENSCM, Montpellier SupAgro, UAG, UM, UPVM, UPVD, UR), Languedoc-Roussillon (L-R) is the region where public research on water is the most substantial and diversified in France, excluding the Ile de France region.

Water resource and aquatic ecosystem management is a major challenge for humanity in the 21st century. Multidisciplinary approaches are required to take the corresponding issues into account (environmental, food, health, societal, economic and financial, political and geopolitical, etc.). In this setting, IM2E brings together a set of technical and human resources to: take up knowledge and adaptation

challenges in order to address water related issues

promote interdisciplinary research to meet environmental issues

acquire international scientific visibility via its position in L-R

produce technological innovations and expertise in interaction with the Competitive Water Cluster of global scope (Ple EAU), and with the SWELIA cluster (pooling over 100 L-R companies specialized in the water sector)

support public policies through recognized multidisciplinary expertise

Main teamsIM2E

Montpellier Institute for Water and Environment

(BRGM/CIRAD/CNRS/INRA/IRD/IRSTEA/AgroParisTech/CIHEAM-IAMM/ EMA/

ENSCM/Montpellier SupAgro/UAG/UM/UPVM/UPVD/UR)

400 scientists

UMR ART-DevActors, Resources

and Territories in Development(CNRS/UPVM/CIRAD/UPVD/UM)

66 scientists

UMR EMMAHModelling Agricultural and

Hydrological Systems in the Mediterranean Environment

(INRA/UAPV)53 scientists

UMR ESPACE-DEVLespace au service du dveloppement

(IRD/UM/UR/UAG)35 scientists

UMR G-EAUWater Resource Management,

Actors and Uses (AgroParisTech/CIRAD/IRD/IRSTEA/

Montpellier SupAgro)60 scientists

UMR GMGeosciences Montpellier

(CNRS/UM)90 scientists

continued on page 14

The project Adapting landscape mosaics of Mediterranean rainfed agrosystems for sustainable management of crop production, water and soil resources (ALMIRA) aims to mitigate pressure caused by climate and socioeconomic changes. It thus proposes to rationalize the spatial organization regarding land use and cropping systems in order to optimize the provision of several ecosystem services (agricultural biomass production, surface water production in man-made reservoirs, curbing erosion, etc.).

In this project, these spatial organizations are called landscape mosaics and jointly viewed as:

networks of natural and anthropogenic elements that integrate relationships between biophysical and socioeconomic processes in a resource catchment basin

structures that impact flows within the landscape, from the crop plot to the catchment basin, with consequences on the landscape functions and resulting services

levers for the management of cropping areas via trade-offs between agricultural production and soil and water resource conservation.

ALMIRA proposes to design, implement and test a new integrated modelling approach to meet these goals. This approach integratesfrom farm plot to small regional scalesstakeholders innovations and levers in prospective landscape mosaic change scenarios, as well as the spatial organizations, biophysical and socioeconomic processes considered.

Methodologically, implementation of this integrated modelling requires:

designing of spatially explicit landscape change scenarios

combining biophysical processes involved in the hydrology of cultivated catchment basins

digital mapping of landscape features

economic assessment of landscape functions.

This integrated modelling approach is being tested in three catchment basins in France, Morocco and Tunisia. ALMIRA brings together researchers from these three countries specialized in a broad range of scientific disciplines. Within this partnership, two research units of the laboratory of excellence LabEx Agro are working specifically on the characterization of cropping systems (UMR SYSTEM, see page 72) and biophysical processes (UMR LISAH, see page 71).

Contact: Frdric Jacob, [email protected] further information: www.almira-project.org

ALMIRA: adapting landscapes for sustainable management of crop production, water and soil resources

A cultivated landscape in Tunisia. R. Calvez

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

11

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

12

worldwide, in developed and developing countries, thus giving it a high level of international recognition.

HSM also works with public partners such as the Regional Directorate for the Environment, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, local authorities (communities of municipalities, joint basin organizations), private consultancy and engineering companies (SDEI, Bio-U, SOMEZ, etc.). HSM has also filed several patents (especially in metrology) and has developed software tools for professionals (progiciels, especially based on data management). One of HSMs fields of excellencestudy of organic contaminantsis the focus of a training and research chair, in partnership with the company Veolia, devoted to Risk analysis related to emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment. Moreover, HSM is involved in the Water (global scope) and Local vulnerability and risk management competitiveness clusters (Ple EAU and Ple Risques).

HydroSciences Montpellier is highly involved in research-oriented training and education. The training courses provided by the laboratory (Water Masters degree, Health Engineering Masters degree, Water Sciences and Technologies engineering degree of PolytechMontpellier) attract French and foreign students alike (especially from developing countries). The UMR is also involved from the Bachelors to the PhD levels.

The laboratory is a member of the Observatoire de recherche mditerranen de lenvironnement (OREME), an Observatory for Science of the Universe (OSU). Its research is also supported by major technical facilities such as the large regional technical platform for the analysis of trace elements in the environment (GPTR AETE) and the collective laboratory for the analysis of stable isotopes in water (LAMA).

One of HydroSciences strengths is its involvement in many national and international projects, its extensive network of collaboration with research laboratories and institutions

Water science research and training

The HydroSciences Montpellier laboratory (UMR HSM IRD, UM, CNRS) is a joint research unit (UMR) that is highly devoted to water science research. The studies span a broad range of domains from biogeochemistry to extreme events, including microbiology, underground water and the hydrological cycle. Most of its scientific activity is in the Mediterranean and tropical regions.

HSM activities are organized in four scientific fields: Transfers, contaminants,

pathogens, environment, health Water, environmental and societal

changes Transfers in ecohydrosystems Karsts, heterogeneous

environments and extreme events.

The laboratory conducts two cross-disciplinary technical workshops: ATHYS (spatial hydrology workshop) and Hydrosphere tracers (workshop promoting the use of analytical techniques for tracing transfers or hydrological processes).

Balancing water resources and useswill future demands be fulfilled?The GICC REMedHE 2012-2015 project (Management and Impacts of Climate Change Impacts of climate change on integrated water resource management in the Mediterranean: Hrault-Ebre comparative assessment) combined scientists from HSM and the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de lEnvironnement (LSCE, CEA, CNRS, UVSQ) along with catchment basin managers (Syndicat mixte du bassin du fleuve Hrault, Confederacin Hidrogrfica del Ebro).

The aim is to assess potential climatic and anthropogenic patterns in 2050 on hydrological systems and water demand in the Hrault (2 500 km, France) and Ebro (85 000 km, Spain) basins in order to develop different water resource management strategies to maintain the balance between water supply and demand. These issues are assessed through the development of an integrative modelling chain calibrated and validated over a 40-year retrospective period. The modelling involves three steps:

water resource simulation (natural flow and disturbance by dams and canals)

representation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of water uses (domestic, agricultural, industrial and energy) and associated demand

and assessment of water usage/resource balances via vulnerability indicators.

Complex prospective scenarios were formalized from the latest simulations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and local socioeconomic scenarios in collaboration with managers. The preliminary results showed that the basins should be subjected to more deficit climatic conditions (increased temperatures associated with decreased spring and summer precipitation) and to increased anthropogenic pressure (increase in population and in irrigated areas).

The combination of these conditions should lead to a substantial decline in available water resources and an increase in domestic and irrigation needs, thus undermining the future balance between the resource supply and demand. Adaptation strategies to reduce water demand (improved network efficiency, changes in agricultural practices) or to increase the availability (alternative dam management, inter-basin water transfers) are thus currently being tested in the modelling chain. The aim is to assess the viability of trajectories in an uncertain future setting.

Contact: Denis Ruelland, [email protected]

For further information: www.remedhe.org

Climate change & resources, territories and development

Water management and adaptation to climate changemultidisciplinary research

The joint research unit Water Resource Management, Actors and Uses (G-EAU AgroParisTech, CIRAD, IRD, IRSTEA, Montpellier SupAgro) conducts interdisciplinary research on water management. It brings together expertise in earth sciences (hydrology, hydraulics) engineering (automation, fluid mechanics, structural mechanics), life science (agronomy) and social science (economy, sociology, political science). It also includes methodological expertise for interdisciplinary research. Priority is given to research in Europe and Africa, with a special focus on the Mediterranean Basin.

This expertise is encompassed within nine teams, that address issues regarding adaptive water and aquatic environment management, focused on specific topics: Hydraulic management,

optimization and supervision of water transfers

Optimization of irrigation management and technology

The unit also focuses on the unintended impacts of adaptations to change in coastal areas.

Methodologically, the unit is working on the implementation of participatory approaches regarding integrated natural resource management in Africa (AFROMAISON project). This research focuses specifically on uncertainties associated with global change and how this process is perceived.

Finally, adaptation is approached through technological and organizational innovations. The unit is thus assessing highly efficient water use technologies (e.g. optimization of irrigation management under climatic constraints) and possibilities for tapping new resources such as wastewater (e.g. Water4Crops project).

Controversies and public actions Innovation and change in irrigated

agriculture Tools and governance of water and

sanitation Combined water-society dynamics Water management participation Experimental analysis of

sociohydrological dynamics and regulations

Assessmentproduction and use of indicators.

The teams address climate change adaptation issues from several angles. The unit analysed possibilities

of adaptation of Seine Basin reservoirs upstream from Paris, for instance.

It also studies the impact of hydraulic projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as the expansion of irrigation in the Upper Niger Basin.

Climate change is also considered in terms of the generated vulnerability. The unit is modelling this and assessing the adaptation capacity of individuals and institutions. Several projects have focused on flooding and water shortages in Europe (France, Spain) and North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco).

ClimAware: reservoir management and adaptation to climate changeThe ClimAware project (2010-2013), funded by IWRM-NET (Integrated Water Resource ManagementTowards a European exchange network to improve the dissemination of research results on integrated water resource management, aimed to develop adaptation strategies to mitigate climate change impacts through regional case studies in three areas related to water:

hydromorphology in the Eder catchment basin, Germany (Kassel University, Germany)

irrigation in the Pouilles region, Italy (CIHEAM-IAM at Bari, Italy),

and reservoir management in the Seine Basin, France (UMR G-EAU).

An integrated European-scale model was developed for combined analyses at two study scales (Kassel University).

The case study on the Seine Basin concerned major socioeconomic issues in the Paris region. It focused on the adaptation of reservoir management, with two main objectives, i.e. minimum flow and flood management. Four large reservoirs with a total capacity of 800 million m3 managed by the tablissement Public Territorial de Bassin (EPTB) Seine Grands Lacs, the project partner, regulate the upstream section of the Seine River and its three major tributaries (Aube, Yonne and Marne).

A hydrological modelling chain integrating reservoir management was developed to simulate the hydrological functioning of the basin. The parameters were calibrated according to real conditions (climate observations and management over the 1958-2009 period). The modelling chain was then forced with data from seven climate models under present (1961-1991) and future (2046-2065) conditions. Adaptation scenarios regarding annual filling curves and real-time reservoir management were drawn up and their performances were tested under present and future climatic conditions, and then compared with those of the current management scheme.

The results showed that climate change could have a significant impact on low flows regardless of the selected management strategy for the four reservoir lakes in the basin.

Contact: David Dorchies, [email protected]

For further information: www.uni-kassel.de/fb14/wasserbau/CLIMAWARE

Impact of climate change at Paris.Mean daily discharges for seven present time (PST; 1961-1991) and future time (FUT; 2046-2061) climate scenarios. Naturalized (blue) and influenced (red) flows according to the current lake management scheme.

D

. Dor

chie

s

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

13

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

14

or semi-controlled conditions (especially in laboratories), and on methodological development to gain insight into and model the functioning of Mediterranean ecosystems.

EMMAH brings together a range of expertise that it makes effective use of in studies on landscape changes on a regional scale (especially land use patterns) and on water transfers in the aquifer, deep unsaturated zone, soil, plant and atmosphere continuum. It also studies the impact of biogeochemical reactivity on water quality, the environmental fate of human pathogens, and crop functioning according to climatic conditions.

Impacts of global change on water and adaptation in the Mediterranean environment

The joint research unit Modelling Agricultural and Hydrological Systems in the Mediterranean Environment (UMR EMMAH INRA, UAPV) brings together staff from INRA Avignon, and the Universit dAvignon et des Pays de Vaucluse.

The research is focused on: the impact of global change on

water resources (in quantitative and qualitative terms),

and adaptation to global change.

The units studies are base on observation of instrumented sites, experiments carried out in controlled

Wastewater reuse helps address water resource quantity and/or quality problems that are increasing due to population growth, urbanization, global warming and environmental (refilling rivers or lakes) or recreational (swimming pools, water parks, watering sports fields, etc.) water uses. Wastewater reuse is substantial in semiarid and arid regions (southwestern USA, Australia, Near East, Middle East, Mediterranean countries) and has been growing in recent years in Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Malta. It remains moderate in Greece and is negligible in other southern European countries (Portugal, France, former Yugoslav Republic, Albania, Bulgaria).

This practice should be promoted by enhancing the assessment of societal, technological, sanitary, agricultural and environmental risks, identifying current constraints, and developing decision support tools to guide public and project developer arbitration. UMR EMMAH conducted a review of around 600 articles on this topic and identified some recycling success and constraint factors in association with Suez-Environnement, TNO (a Dutch applied research organization, the Netherlands), Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) and UMR Environnement et Grandes Cultures (INRA, AgroParisTech). In collaboration with Veolia Water Systems Iberica and the group Economa del Agua de lUniversitat de Valencia in Spain, it submitted to Climate-KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community, a network devoted to climate change) a project to assess the economic viability and competitiveness of agricultural waste recycling, identify market opportunities and define win-win strategies.

The research unit is also conducting studies on the environmental fate (soil, water, plant, atmosphere) of enteric viruses in wastewater. The collaborations combine quantitative microbial risk assessment with (in future) an economic analysis. Several research programmes on these issues are ongoing or pending funding (by CNRS-INSU, the French National Research Agency, Agropolis Fondation, Campus France). They bring together various partners, including Suez-Environnement, the Centre National de Rfrence des virus entriques, the Agence nationale de scurit sanitaire de lalimentation, de lenvironnement et du travail (ANSES), the Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Pathogens (Technion, Israel), and research units, including G-EAU, the Division of Applied Mathematics and Informatics (AgroParisTech, INRA), D3E/NRE, etc.

Contact: Pierre Renault, [email protected] further information: www6.inra.fr/agadapt/Water-reuse/State-of-the-art

Wastewater reuse for irrigation

Irrigation of an olive grove in Cyprus. P. Renault

Main teamsUMR GRED

Governance, Risk, Environment, Development

(IRD/UPVM)53 scientists

UMR HSMHydroSciences Montpellier

(IRD/UM/CNRS)90 scientists

UMR LAMETALaboratoire Montpellirain

dconomie Thorique et Applique(INRA/Montpellier SupAgro/UM/CNRS)

53 scientists

UMR TETISSpatial Information and Analysis for Territories and Ecosystems(CIRAD/AgroParisTech/IRSTEA)

42 scientists

UR D3E/NRENouvelles Ressources en Eau et conomie

(BRGM)16 scientists

UR GreenManagement of Renewable

Resources and Environment(CIRAD)

18 scientists

UR LGEILaboratoire de Gnie

de lEnvironnement Industriel(EMA)

30 scientists


Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

15

Climate change, Earth geodynamics and surface manifestationsrisk analysis and management

The joint research unit Geosciences Montpellier (UMR GM CNRS, UM) has developed a global approach to Earth dynamics and surface manifestations, while taking couplings between the various layers (including the hydrosphere) into account.

The aim is to gain further insight into the dynamic processes involved at different scales and to take societal expectations into account, such as: supply of non-energy resources

(mineral and hydric) energy choices for the future,

from extending carbon-based reserves to developing new energy technologies (natural hydrogen, geothermal energy)

waste storage and confinement (downstream from the nuclear cycle, CO

2, mining waste, etc.)

natural hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, gravity hazards, floods, etc.)

environmental and climatic changes with a high anthropogenic impact (coastline changes, coastal saline intrusion).

GM is also part of a large-scale national and international cooperation network that includes countries and programmes from Europe (HORIZON 2020 programme), the Mediterranean region (North Africa, Middle East), and elsewhere in the world (Taiwan, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Brazil, Mexico and USA).

GM also collaborates with the private sector, especially via the creation of business start-ups by PhD students and for the funding of research contracts and theses. It belongs to the Geosciences Cluster, which was launched in 2011, involving key companies from L-R Region (Geoter, Cenote, imaGeau, Schlumberger, Fugro, Antea, Areva, Lafarge) and R&D and training agencies (GM, BRGM, EMA, CEFREM, HSM research units).

* GPTR-AETE: Grand Plateau Technique Rgional Analyse des Elments en Trace dans lEnvironnement.

Five research teams (Mantle & Interface, Lithosphere Dynamics, Risks, Basins, and Porus Environment Transfers) conduct studies in three main scientific fields: geodynamics, reservoirs and risks. Of particular interest, the Risk and Climate subtheme is focused on climate change issues: heavy rainfall forecasting paleoclimates, extreme events and

coastal system dynamics hydromorphodynamic modelling

and coastal hazards.

In the Mediterranean Basin, UMR GM coordinates two experimental Systmes dObservation et dExprimentation au long terme pour la Recherche en Environnement (SOERE H+) research sites in Larzac (France) and Mallorca (Spain). The unit is also a member of OREME for which it conducts different observation tasks. It is also involved in GPTR AETE*, and hosts some equipment of the national platforms of the CNRS National Institute of Sciences of the Universe (INSU), including an absolute gravimeter and a scanning electron microscope for electron backscatter diffraction analysis (SEM-EBSD).

Coastal monitoring. S.

Pist

re

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

16

The R&D service of this unit addresses societal demands associated with increased water needs by developing the yet relatively untapped potential of natural water resources (complex aquifers) and unconventional water resources (treated wastewater, surface water, rainwater, etc.). Groundwater and aquifersfrom hydrogeological and economic standpointsis therefore the general focus of study of the D3E/NRE research unit.

Note however that, through a scientific programme on economic aspects of the environment and risks, the units economists also intend to conduct research topics such as natural risks or contaminated sites and soils (e.g. former industrial wastelands) in R&D, public policy support or international projects.

The water management issue is still the key overall focus of the units research, regardless of whether it is assessed from an environmental or natural risk standpoint.

structure and functioningthe potential of karstic aquifers, crystalline aquifers, volcanic environments, thermomineral and mineral water springs

characterizing the distribution of hydrodynamic properties of complex aquifers, including coastal aquifers, in order to develop active water resource management methods through multidisciplinary (geology, hydrology, geophysics, geochemistry and economy) approaches

developing prospective approaches and methods to assess the economic value of environmental resources, to model various water demands, to analyse economic and institutional water resource access regulation mechanisms and assess the economic vulnerability of users to global change

finally, developing modelling and decision support tools to manage these aquifers and predict the impact of global change (climatic and anthropogenic) on different scales, while integrating physical and socioeconomic issues.

Mainstreaming hydrogeological and socioeconomic issues to enhance management of growing water needs

The main missions of the research unit Nouvelles Ressources en Eau et conomie of the Water, Environment and Ecotechnologies division(UR D3E/NRE BRGM) are to: study optimal groundwater

management conditions (active management), especially for complex aquifers (karsts, crystalline rocks, volcanic environments) in situations when they are subjected to increased constraints (climate change, anthropogenic pressure, socioeconomic change, urbanization, etc.)

develop suitable economic approaches to fulfil emerging needs regarding integrated management of water resources, aquatic environments and risks.

The scientific research and public service support activities of this unit are aimed at: developing innovative methods to

study and assessregarding their

Tracing experiment to characterize water transfers and assess the vulnerability of the Lez River hydrosystem (France).

V. Leonardi

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

17

LEZ-GMU projecta study on the impact of global change on groundwater resources based on a case study of the Lez karstic aquifer

The research project Multiuse management of Mediterranean karstic aquifersLez River, its watershed and catchment area (LEZ-GMU), coordinated by the French Geological Survey (BRGM), involved a partnership with UR D3E/NRE, UMR HSM, G-EAU, TETIS, the European Centre for Research and Advanced Training in Scientific Computation (CERFACS) and Biotope, the ecological engineering consultant. This project was funded by Montpellier Agglomration, the Conseil Gnral de lHrault, the Agence de lEau Rhne Mditerrane Corse and BRGM.

The aim of this project was to improve knowledge on the functioning of the Lez hydrosystem (Hrault, France) and the quality of the resource in an active management and global

change setting. Hydrogeological models to reproduce the Lez catchment hydrodynamic were built for this project. They facilitated studies on the impact of global change on groundwater resources. Nine climate scenarios from the CERFACS SCRATCH 2010 project (fine-scale climate projections for France in the 21st century) were used. These scenarios indicated an increase in temperature and a slight decrease in rainfall by 2050.

The performance of the karstic system was assessed for different extents of pumping with or without climate change. The findings indicated that climate change would result in an average 30% decrease in the annual recharge. This reduction would mainly occur in the autumn and spring periods and, to a lesser extent in winter. It would be observed through a decrease in the piezometry within the aquifer and result in a slight increase in the duration of the dry period in the Lez spring (+30 days on average compared to the reference period). The extraction scenarios showed a risk of greater water table depletion, but they also highlighted the possibilitywhile taking the uncertainties inherent to this type of approach into considerationof increasing the current extraction volume, while maintaining a monthly average piezometric level above pump elevation.

Contact: Jean-Christophe Marchal, [email protected]

Impact of climate change on water resources.Comparative results of hydrogeological model simulations for the Lez spring when subjected to nine climate scenarios: for the present (blue) and for 2050 (red). Two variables; the piezometric level of the spring (in m NGF, i.e. in metres relative to the benchmark elevation for France) and its discharge rate (in l/s).

Analysis and management of pollutant flows and natural and technological risks

The Laboratoire de Gnie de lEnvironnement Industriel (UR LGEI EMA) is one of the three laboratories of the cole des Mines dAls (EMA), which in turn depends on the French Ministry of Industry.

LGEI focuses on resource management, including ecosystems, hydrosystems, anthropogenic systems, as well as raw materials, i.e. fossil and mineral resources. These resources should be utilized in rational and responsible ways to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems and the production capacity of humankind.

To meet these challenges, LGEI has developed a multidisciplinary approach on the following topics: assessment of the chemical

and ecological quality of water and effluents; development of treatment systems; integrated

data processing, modelling) and design decision support tools for different stakeholders (local authorities, companies in charge of sanitation or drinking water purification).

Regarding hydrosystem research, LGEIs expertise is focused mainly on statistical modelling using formal neural networks in order to develop models for nonlinear and nonstationary systems. This choice raises questions regarding the validity of the modelsbuilt solely using datawhen considering future changes that could arise as a result of climate change and extreme events. LGEIs teams therefore carefully validate their models testing their performances with regard to the most intense events in the database (floods, drought).

See an example of a project conducted by UR LGEI on page 38.

management of pollutant flows (industrial environments, water resources) according to a territorial ecology type of approach

understanding and spatializing hydrological processes in catchment basins; understanding and modelling karstic or fractured aquifers for sustainable water resource management

finally, natural and technological hazard analysis and management.

LGEIs research activities are focused mainly on water resource management in connection with anthropogenic and climatic forcing. To address the societal demand (catchment basin managers, water agencies), the unit conducts studies on different types of contamination (persistent pollutants, toxins, algal blooms) in an effort to gain further insight into the status (chemical and ecological) of water bodies and their potential change patterns.

LGEI intends to develop integrated systems (sensors, sensor networks,

J.

-C. M

arc

hal

piez

omet

ric

leve

l (m

)

disc

harg

e ra

te (

l/s)

Max/Mini reference scenariMax/Mini future scenarioMean multi-model reference Mean multi-model future

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Understanding plant responses to water stress to enhance performance in a climate change settingBecause of global change and the growing world demand for food, it is crucial to clearly understand how plants take up and utilize soil water and especially how cereal crops tolerate and react to water stress. These issues are studied through two research projects conducted by UMR B&PMP (see page 81).

The HydroRoot project aims to boost our fundamental understanding of root water transport. This will provide an integrated view of roots by taking the hydraulic properties of tissues and the root architecture into account, and by explaining how these components are molecularly controlled by physiological and environmental parameters. Through the strong physiological and genetic components of this project, this type of research could also have an impact on plant improvement programmes geared towards generating plants featuring optimised water use and stress responses.

Leaf rolling resulting from leaf epidermal contractile cell movements is an adaptive response to water deficit that occurs in many cereals. The aim of the LeafRoll project is to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for turgor and contractility variations in these cells by focusing specifically on transmembrane ion fluxes.

Molecular, physiological and agronomic analyses will be conducted on a panel of wheat cultivars showing various degrees of drought tolerance and on lines with modified expression of genes coding for ion transport systems. The studies will assess the role of these genes in leaf rolling and wheat productivity under water deficit conditions.

This project is being developed in collaboration with the Ecology and Environment laboratory of the Facult des Sciences Ben Msik in Casablanca (Morocco), as part of a Hubert Curien Partnership of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Contacts: Christophe Maurel, [email protected]

Anne-Alinor Very, [email protected] further information: www1.montpellier.inra.fr/ibip/bpmp

Leaf rolling in durum wheat plants under drought conditions. This decreases the leaf area exposed to sunlight, thus reducing tissue heating and water loss by transpiration.

Schematic diagram of water flow paths in a plant root during its radial transfer from the soil to vascular tissues.

Y. Bo

ursia

c

B&

PMP

S. Mahboub Universit de Casablanca

Through field measurements combined with modelling, the Assessment of Annual Cropping Systems team of the AIDA research unit (see page 74) is further assessing the effects of conventional and innovative agricultural practices on the agricultural and environmental performance of crops. This assessment focuses especially on the impact of cropping practices on water usage. In some situations, the enhanced infiltration and reduction in evaporation achieved by leaving a mulch layer on the soil surface enhances cereal crop yields without increasing the interannual variability. However, in other situations (generally more humid conditions), the increased water infiltration only results in increased drainage but has little effect on crop yields, even though this practice contributes to reducing erosion problems.

Greater representation of these phenomena in crop models enables better ex ante quantification of the potential of innovative techniques designed to enhance adaptation to future climate change. These studies are currently being carried out as part of the Agroecology-Based Aggradation-Conservation Agriculture (ABACO) and Environmental and Social Changes in Africa: Past, Present and Future (ESCAPE) projects. The EU-funded ABACO project aims to evaluate and implement conservation

agriculture and agroecology based technical solutions that are also designed to reduce soil degradation and food insecurity. The ANR-funded ESCAPE project assesses the vulnerability of rural societies in sub-Saharan African regions to climate and environmental changes, while studying adaptation strategies to reduce this vulnerability.

The AIDA research unit is contributing to this project particularly by assessing the potential impact of future climate change on cropping systems. These projects are being carried out in countries such as Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Senegal, and the scientific questions to which AIDA teams are proposing answers (via an in silico test on technical and organizational changes) are, for instance, Could economic risks for farms be reduced through crop insurance assistance based on meteorological analyses?

Contact: Franois Affholder, [email protected] further information: www.locean-ipsl.upmc.fr/~ESCAPE

Crop water balance and climate change


Crop residue left in the field.

F. Ba

udro

n

CIR

AD

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

18

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

19

to determine how a society in its environment, i.e. an SES, perceives given disturbances. This involves studying, through a set of concepts and tools, how the society prepares and reacts.

GREENs research includes analyses and factors involved in modifying nature-society interactions within SESchanges in viewpoints and/or knowledge and/or practices, power games, network mobilization, socioeconomic and environmental processes.

(watersheds, forest ecosystems, etc.). It spurs cross-disciplinary analyses on biodiversity, land, land-use changes, arbitration between conservation and usage, as well as access and types of appropriation of natural renewable resources.

The unit conducts research on all continents in association with many scientific communities in developed and developing countries. Although its headquarters are in Montpellier (France), the team is highly involved in studies in West Africa, the Indian Ocean region, Southeast Asia, and more recently in Central America and Brazil.

One of the units research priorities concerns adaptation and transformation. The aim is

Socioecosystem adaptation and transformation

Since 1994, the research unit Management of Renewable Resources and Environment (UR GREEN CIRAD) has been investigatingin a systemic and interdisciplinary waythe role of ecosystems and the environment as a development sustainability factor. The unit provides knowledge, methods and tools to gain insight into ecological and social systems (i.e. socioecosystems [SES]). It focuses on different resources (water, forests, land, fisheries, etc.), which it studies on different scalesfrom village to region and sometimes to the country level, from areas delineated by social dynamics (pioneer front areas) to ecosystems

EcoAdapt projectclimate change adaptation for local developmentThe EcoAdapt project has been funded for a 4-year period (beginning in January 2012) by the European Commissions 7th Framework Programme to promote integrated collaboration between science and civil society to benefit ecosystems and inhabitants in three areas in Latin America. EcoAdapt hopes to show that scientists working together with civil society organizations (CSOs) can help design strong socially and technically based strategies for adaptation to climate change. CSOs provide knowledge through their work in the field and with local communities, while researchers provide knowledge acquired through their social and biophysical science research.

This work of combining different types of knowledge and collectively generating new knowledge is the real challenge addressed by EcoAdapt to support communities living in the projects focus areas: Jujuy Model Forest in Argentina, Chiquitano Model Forest in Bolivia, and Alto Malleco Model Forest in Chile.

EcoAdapt considers that adaptation to climate change cannot be done individually, so collective efforts are needed to bring together organizations with complementary skills and fields of activity. The project consortium includes five CSOs and four research partners, including UR GREEN and UMR ART-Dev. Local stakeholders involved in the project are from model forest platforms (universities, national agencies, producers associations, community councils, private operators, etc.). Internationally, the project also has connections with the Latin American network of climate change offices (RIOCC*) and with the Ibero-American Model Forest Network (IAMFN).

The experience of the EcoAdapt project in creating adaptation plans will be utilized to benefit other areas where water-related conflicts could be worsened by the increasing impacts of climate change. To this end, EcoAdapt is using existing networks while strengthening and developing them so that the results are disseminated and shared, with new ideas also being introduced into the project.

Contact : Grgoire Leclerc, [email protected]

For further information: www.ecoadapt.eu

* Red Iberoamericana de Oficinas de Cambio Climtico.

Measuring climate parameters in the Jujuy Model Forest in Argentina.

C

.E. M

anch

ego

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

20

Spatialization of environmental knowledgefor monitoring tropical areas vulnerable to global change

Founded in 2011, the joint research unit Lespace au service du dveloppement (UMR ESPACE-DEV IRD, UM, UR, UAG) conducts research (fundamental, technological and applied) on decision processes in favour of sustainable development in the developing world, at local, regional and global scales. By focusing on environmental monitoring and renewable resource management, the UMR investigates issues regarding the spatialization of environmental knowledge. The aim is to provide decision support in peripheral tropical regions that are vulnerable to global change.

UMR ESPACE-DEV has broad ranging skills and knowledge in research, training, expertise and service.

on fragmentation processes and on the vulnerability and viability of territories. The AIMS team implements remote sensing, direct field observations and stakeholder surveys in its research.

The Modelling, Knowledge Engineering and Spatial Data Analysis (MICADO) team is specialized in knowledge modelling and digital and symbolic data in the environment field. The data is derived especially from remote sensing and in situ observations.

The following five themes are investigated in a cross-disciplinary manner by the three teams: ontology of spatiotemporal systems integrated study of the continent-

coast-ocean continuum observatory of environmental,

territorial and landscape changes environment, societies and sanitary

hazards co-viability of social and ecological

systems.

See and example of a project conducted by UMR ESPACE-DEV on page 65.

The unit consists of three research units: The Spatial Observation of

the Environment (OSE) team conducts research ranging from satellite data management to the analysis of data flows and their salient features, with the aim of highlighting the environmental dynamics. From Earth observation data, the main activity of the OSE team is to contribute to gaining insight into interactions that regulate tropical systems, especially so-called terrestrial, oceanic and anthropogenic tropical landscapes, as well as physical, biological and human processes that they host.

The Integrated Approach to Environments and Societies (AIMS) team studies the dynamics, functioning and co-viability of systems (ecosystems and sociosystems) in fragilized environments (islands, coasts, forests, oases, etc.) under the stress of global change. It focuses

Ressources, territoires et dveloppement

2009 CNES; BD KALIDEOS ISLE-REUNION; Distribution SPOT Image SPOT 4 image (19/05/2009), Runion: false-colour image (MIR/PIR/R), CNES KALIDEOS programme.


Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

21

including developing methods for information extraction from spatio-temporal data;

Uses of spatial information for multi-scale development (UsIG). Assessing and improving the relevance of geo information according to stakeholder needs, developing methods for turning data into useful and used information, monitoring and evaluating the use of this information and its impact on actors, management and territorial governance.

The research is supported by the Montpellier-based Remote Sensing Centre and the EQUIPEX-GEOSUD (Geoinformation for Sustainable Development) project. Through this project, the Remote Sensing Centre provides access to researchers and innovative satellite data companies, calculation resources, specialized software (image processing spatial analysis, geographical information, statistics, etc.), training facilities and hosting capabilities.

See an example of a project conducted by UMR TETIS on page 74.

on agriculture, the environment, resources, territories, health, etc. On this basis, the unit devotes a major share of its activities to education, training, expertise and public policy support.

The TETIS research unit is organised in four research teams: ATTOS, AMoS, SISO and UsIG Data acquisition and remote

sensing (ATTOS). Developing tools and methods for acquiring spatial data through satellite and airborne (drones, planes) remote sensing, and for extracting bio-physical information from remotely- sensed data;

Spatial analysis and modelling (AMoS). Focus on analyzing and modelling spatial structures and temporal dynamics of agro-environmental systems, developing spatial indicators for characterizing these systems, and evaluating uncertainties related to the data and models used;

Spatial Information Systems: (SISO). Design and implementation of information systems to address environmental and landscape management related issues,

Spatial information for the monitoring and analysis of territories and ecosystems

The structure of the joint research unit Spatial Information and Analysis for Territories and Ecosystems (TETIS CIRAD, AgroParisTech, IRSTEA) includes two scientific dimensions, with one being thematic (territories and environment) and the other methodological (remote sensing and spatial information). These two priority areas define the units research fieldspatial informationand its mandate is outlined as, the production of knowledge, tools and methods to gain greater insight into nature/society dynamics and interactions and to support stakeholders in the management of their territories and renewable natural resources (land, water, forests, biodiversity).

The unit implements an integrated approach regarding the spatial information chain, from its acquisition to treatment, including its management and use by stakeholders. Research is focused

LIDAR technologyuseful, usable and used information.

U

MR

TETI

S

LIDAR signalAmplitude

Time/Distance

Pulse emitted

Backscattered wave form

Changes in governance and territorial and resource management in response to global change

The joint research unit Governance, Risk, Environment, Development (UMR GRED IRD, UPVM) focuses on relationships that societies overall, as well as individuals, have with the environment. It strives to address the following dual-sided question: how do new constraints and vulnerabilities modify the governance and management of territories and resources?

Biodiversity conservation and rural system dynamics is the first line of research at GRED. Agricultural societies are hampered by the fragilization of ecosystems and conservation injunctions associated with the globalization of issues. These policies are nevertheless undergoing drastic changes. They are no longer considered independently of development and, moreover, biodiversity and climate change issues tend to overlap, which is a

powers following the emergence of new territories or international regimes. This multiplicity of scales and stakeholders leads to the emergence of hybrid governance strategies and institutional pluralism situations, both of which are drivers of complementarities orconverselyconflicts.

The risks and vulnerability of societies and territories is the last line of research of GRED teams. So far, public efforts to strengthen resilience have been focused on risk prevention through the setting up of material and territorial infrastructures. They have recently turned towards supporting adaptation and resilience phenomenon in order to weigh the risks. However, the questions of the role of sociocultural factors in the vulnerability and that of the adaptation of social and cognitive structures have yet to be addressed. The aim now is to explain these interrelationships and the case of coastal and island areas is specifically targeted from this standpoint.

source of complementarities as well as contradictions. This pattern is illustrated by measures regarding the mitigation of impacts or adaptation to climate change with, for instance, carbon sequestration negotiations being focused at the tropical forest level. The result is that these new policies orient the representation of the forest and affect the vulnerability of communities and the ecosystem.

The second line of research at GRED concerns the governance and management of resources and territories. These concepts are priorities for development policies and a strategic social issue, as illustrated by the conflicts and discrimination associated with territorial resource access. In this setting, special attention is paid to individual and collective strategies of the stakeholders involved. Being constrained by existing institutional frameworks, they adapt, circumvent or intervene to develop them. The question of governance scales thus seems crucial, along with the redistribution of decision-making

Decentralized resource governance.A training session as part of a community management study programme, bringing together teachers, researchers, students and members of a farmers association. Maps and diagrams are used for mediation between stakeholder groups.

T. Ruf

Climate change & resources, territories and developmentC

limat

e ch

ange

: im

pac

t an

d a

dap

tati

on

22

The Environmental Services and Uses of Rural Areas project (ANR SERENA) implemented by the research units GRED, ART-Dev, GREEN and METAFORT (AgroParisTech, IRSTEA, INRA, VetAgroSup) between 2009 and 2013 focused on issues related to the emergence of the environmental service or ecosystem service (ES) concept and its inclusion in public policy.

The ES concept takes the productive function of ecosystems into account (e.g. carbon sequestration) as well as so-called cultural functions. The latter refer to educational and recreational roles of protected areas as well as the unique relationship between some societies and their environment. This identity aspect confers a heritage value to some practices or threatened natural landscapes and objects.

Payment for environmental services (PES) instruments illustrate this type of representation of nature-society relationships. Although the genealogy of the two concepts (ES and PES) was originally distinct, biodiversity conservation stakeholders now put them both simultaneously forward as a justification for economic incentives, nature preservation cost compensation and protected area funding. The role of these tools is to promote services provided by environment managers. Contributions are thus requested from resource users and ES beneficiaries.

A comparison of three countries revealed the extent of dissemination of the concept and the marked differences in its application.

In Costa Rica, a country that has played a major role, the ES concept circulated through a forest policy launched in 1996. It reclassified as PES a previous policy of financial support to forest properties that was partly funded by public subsidies backed by a tax on petroleum products and, more recently, on water.

In Madagascar, the concept was gradually introduced via international cooperation from the year 2000, with the aim of boosting public awareness on conservation and providing sustainable funding for New Protected Areas and community management of forests. Stakeholders of these projects then focused on carbon markets, biodiversity, water and tourism.

In France, the ES concept has yet to gain wide popularity. In conservation and biodiversity areas, it is currently being introduced through a biodiversity law. In agricultural policies, it is economic incentives, via regulation services rendered by farmers, which attract stakeholders attention regarding the new European policy.

Application of the ES concept and its links with international issues (climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable water management, ecotourism) has been promoted by the environmental and forestry sectors in international arenas. PES are being developed in Costa Rica on a national scale, and in Madagascar on a more local scale (REDD+ pilot programmes, local water platforms, and conservation contracts drawn up by NGOs). Generally, the agricultural sectorand more generally rural development policieshave not yet appropriated this concept to a sufficient extent to be able to renew their practices and intervention tools. Some existing initiatives (ecotourism, environmental certifications) sometimes include the ES concept, but this is often just empty rhetoric used to justify their legitimacy.

Contact: Philippe Meral, [email protected] further information: www.serena-anr.org

SERENA projectecosystem service issues

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) pilot project.This project aims to reduce the conversion of natural forests into food crop production sites, responsible for GHG emissions (Ranomena, Fandriana-Vondrozo Forest Corridor (COFAV) New Protected Area in Madagascar).

G. Serpanti

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

23

Climate changea new constraint for stakeholders, resources and territories in development

The joint research unit Actors, Resources and Territories in Development (UMR ART-Dev CNRS, UPVM, CIRAD, UPVD, UM) develops research on the reconfiguration of territories from economic, political and social standpoints, while highlighting relationships between globalization and local dynamics. Its main research themes concern rural and urban territorial trajectories, the natural resource governance question, and other issues regarding mobility and circulation processes in the globalization setting. These themes are studied on the basis of territorial scales and public policies. The unit works on several continents an in many geographical and political settings with marked differences in terms of choices and levels of development. It is striving to promote this wealth through comparative approaches.

Adaptation strategies may include setting up incentive economic mechanisms to encourage natural resource users to implement more sustainable practices. They thus accompany climate change policies (INVALUABLE and REDE CLIMAT projects). Research has also revealed that climate change adaptation is necessarily specific to the local setting and that there is no quick fix that could be universally applied anywhere and under any circumstances. As shown in the CIRCULEX project, the complementarity of the different types and levels of stakeholders (ranging from individuals to national and international decision-making bodies) is essential to ensure the proper design and success of these adaptation strategies and linkages between the different environmental issues (climate, biodiversity, water, desertification, etc.).

Climate changea factor responsible for environmental disturbances as well as socioeconomic and political tensionis a rising cross-cutting theme within the unit (Of lands and waters, EcoAdapt and BLUEGRASS projects). The research teams are primarily seeking to understand and analyse these impacts by combining analyses on local, national and international scales. Climate change also places new constraints on natural resource management, including the risk of the emergence of conflicts regarding the distribution and appropriation of these resources.

Besides these efforts to characterize and analyse climate change impacts, the units research also assesses various current political, institutional, regulatory, technical and behavioural options to address climate change challenges. They include climate change mitigation initiatives (human interventions to reduce sources of or increases in GHG sinks, as well as climate change adaptation strategies (modifications in natural and human systems).

Of lands and watersAround the globe smallholder farmers are coping with major disruptive changes that are unfolding simultaneously. Rapid changes in land tenure and water management practices are now overlapped with climate change processes. For instance, uncertainties regarding rainfall or the increased likelihood of extreme weather events coexist with other uncertainties on the future of land tenure or the maintenance of local water management customs. Hence, farmers strategies do not simply address climate change related problems, but rather a set of disturbances they are forced to cope with at once.

As the Of lands and waters project specifically illustrates, and in which UMR ART-Dev participates, farmers develop their own strategies to manage these combined uncertainties. This project explores ways in which the relationship with land and water is affected by these global changes on very local to global scales. Based on eight case studies involving long-term field surveys in Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, France, Spain, Nepal, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories, this project assesses the experience of local agricultural stakeholders in order to gain insight into their perception of issues affecting them and the rationale behind their coping strategies. The project is also focused on processes that underlie these issues on regional, national and global scales.

This scientific research clearly differentiates locally developed strategies that are effective from those that, conversely, induce vulnerabilities. These latter strategies are quite logical from the standpoint of producers on the local level, but they could induce a vulnerability for farmers when they encounter stakeholders active at national or global levels, e.g. foreign investors or development support organizations.

Contact: Julie Trottier, [email protected]


Irrigation canal in Lebanon.

F. M

olle

IR

D

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

24

Clim

ate

chan

ge: i

mp

act a

nd

ad

apta

tion

25

support public decisions on climate change adaptation policies (risk of inland and coastal flooding) and to identify awareness and training needs regarding governance.

Since 2014, several LAMETA researchers have been participating in a multidisciplinary ANR project entitled Modelling to accompany stakeholders towards adaptation of forestry and agroforestry systems to global changes (MACACC, see page 77). This project aims to develop various global change adaptive management scenarios and to test producers capacities to adopt them in tropical and temperate regions worldwide.

of research projects with a common thematic fieldsustainable development and resource manag

climate change impact and adaptation

Documents

research structures

authorities of research

adaptation research

climate change impacts

international campus

international exchanges

international institutions

research units ur