title: The contribution of agent-based simulations to conservation management on a Natura 2000 site.
abstract: The conservation of biodiversity today must include the participation and support of local stakeholders. Natura 2000 can be considered as a conservation system that, in its application in most EU countries, relies on the participation of local stakeholders. Our study proposes a scientific method for participatory modelling, with the aim of contributing to the conservation management of habitats and species at a Natura 2000 site (Crozon Peninsula, Bretagne, France) that is representative of in landuse changes in coastal areas. We make use of companion modelling and its associated tools (scenario-planning, GIS, multi-agent modelling and simulations) to consider possible futures through the co-construction of management scenarios and the understanding of their consequences on different indicators of biodiversity status (habitats, avifauna, flora). The maintenance of human activities as they have been carried out since the creation of the Natura 2000s zone allows the biodiversity values to remain stable. Extensive agricultural activities have been shown to be essential to this maintenance, whereas management sustained by the multiplication of conservation actions brings about variable results according to the indicators. None of the scenarios has a positive incidence on the set of indicators. However, an understanding of the modelling system and the results of the simulations allow for the refining of the selection of conservation actions in relation to the species to be preserved.
authors.affiliation: LETG (UMR 6554 CNRS-Géomer), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (OSU UMS 3113 CNRS), Université de Brest, UEB, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France; CESCO (UMR 7204 UPMC CNRS MNHN), Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.affiliation: LETG (UMR 6554 CNRS-Géomer), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (OSU UMS 3113 CNRS), Université de Brest, UEB, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gourmelon
authors.affiliation: LETG (UMR 6554 CNRS-Géomer), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (OSU UMS 3113 CNRS), Université de Brest, UEB, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouan
authors.affiliation: CESCO (UMR 7204 UPMC CNRS MNHN), Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Le Viol
authors.affiliation: CESCO (UMR 7204 UPMC CNRS MNHN), Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: kerbiriou@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerbiriou
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes; D005602:France; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical
keywords: Companion modelling; Multi-agent model; Natura 2000; Participatory scenario-planning; Socio-ecological system