Determinants of the geographic distribution of Puumala virus and Lyme borreliosis infections in Belgium

BACKGROUND: Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases generally display clear spatial patterns due to different space-dependent factors. Land cover and land use influence disease transmission by controlling both the spatial distribution of vectors or hosts, and the probability of contact with susceptible human populations. The objective of this study was to combine environmental and socio-economic factors to explain the spatial distribution of two emerging human diseases in Belgium, Puumala virus (PUUV) and Lyme borreliosis. Municipalities were taken as units of analysis. RESULTS: Negative binomial regressions including a correction for spatial endogeneity show that the spatial distribution of PUUV and Lyme borreliosis infections are associated with a combination of factors linked to the vector and host populations, to human behaviours, and to landscape attributes. Both diseases are associated with the presence of forests, which are the preferred habitat for vector or host populations. The PUUV infection risk is higher in remote forest areas, where the level of urbanisation is low, and among low-income populations. The Lyme borreliosis transmission risk is higher in mixed landscapes with forests and spatially dispersed houses, mostly in wealthy peri-urban areas. The spatial dependence resulting from a combination of endogenous and exogenous processes could be accounted for in the model on PUUV but not for Lyme borreliosis. CONCLUSION: A large part of the spatial variation in disease risk can be explained by environmental and socio-economic factors. The two diseases not only are most prevalent in different regions but also affect different groups of people. Combining these two criteria may increase the efficiency of information campaigns through appropriate targeting

Une approche socio-écologique des services écosystémiques. Cas d'étude des prairies subalpines du Lautaret

The ecosystem service (ES) concept is increasingly used in different scientific disciplines and is spreading into policy and business circles to draw attention to the benefits that people receive from biodiversity and ecosystems. Nevertheless, while the number of case studies considering various dimensions of the interactions between ecosystems and land use via ES has been steadily increasing, integrated research addressing interrelationships between biodiversity, ES and land use has remained mostly theoretical. This thesis aims through a socio-ecological approach to understand: (1) Which ES are potentially delivered given ecological dynamics, (2) how these ES are perceived by stakeholders in terms of value and knowledge, (3) how human management affects ES delivery, and (4) how ES are taken into account in land management decisions, thereby considering feedbacks from ecosystem to the land use system through ES. To address these questions, an interdisciplinary study was conducted on Villar d'Arène (French Alps) a municipality where the subalpine landscape is shaped by extensive mountain livestock farming. Statistical modelling and geographical information systems where combined to analyse the determinants of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and ES within the landscape using ecological (including plant functional traits), biophysical and land-use data. The following ES were mapped: agronomic value, aesthetic value, water quality, carbon storage, soil fertility, soil moisture, conservation of plant diversity and pollination. These allowed us to quantify trade-offs and synergies in the current landscape and to identify key management types supporting multifunctionality. The dynamics of ES was projected under four different scenarios integrating climatic, socio-economic and land-use changes, which were developed using a participative approach with regional experts and local farmers. Analyses of projected scenario impacts showed that ES synergies and trade-offs evolve differently when considering direct effects of climate on ecosystems, and/or their indirect effects through farmers adaptive responses. Interviews with local stakeholders (experts from nature conservation and agricultural extension, farmers and inhabitants) of mountain grasslands showed that the ES concept is still relatively unknown in explicit terms. Nevertheless after defining ES to interviewees, they expressed a variety of relevant interests and knowledge. Although all stakeholders valued a common set of ecosystem services (agronomic value, aesthetic value, water quality, and conservation of plant diversity), we identified negative and positive representations of the effects of grassland management on ecosystem services, depending on stakeholders perceptions of the relationships between soil fertility and biodiversity, and biodiversity and the other services. Finally, a role-playing game explored how ES cognition mediated environmental feedbacks on farmers' behaviours. Results emphasized the influence of other factors such as socio-economic or climatic context, topographic constraints, social value of farming or farmer individual and household characteristics, on the link between ES and land-management decisions. This case study demonstrates the interest of an integrated approach decomposing the feedback loop from ecosystems to land use when studying ES for scientific or policy purposes.Le concept de services écosystémiques est de plus en plus utilisé par différentes disciplines scientifiques et pris en compte dans les sphères politiques pour attirer l'attention sur les bénéfices que l'Homme reçoit des écosystèmes. Ce concept mène à étudier les liens complexes entre l'homme et son environnement. Cependant, la majorité des recherches actuelles restent théorique et peu de cas d'étude mettent à l'épreuve ce concept dans une démarche transdisciplinaire. Cette thèse à donc pour objectif principal de combler ce manque en explorant et analysant les dynamiques et processus des services écosystémiques en terme d'offre et de demande, y compris les effets de rétroactions, par une approche socio-écologique dans un contexte de changement planétaire. A cette fin, une étude transdisciplinaire a été conduite sur les prairies subalpines de la commune de Villar d'Arène (Hautes-Alpes) où l'élevage ovin et bovin domine. Des techniques de modélisations statistiques et de systèmes d'informations géographiques ont été combinées pour analyser la fourniture potentielle de services écosystémiques, conduisant à une cartographie de ceux-ci à l'échelle du paysage. La demande en services écosystémiques à quant à elle été étudiée par l'intermédiaire d'entretiens individuels et de groupes avec les acteurs locaux ainsi que des jeux de rôle avec les éleveurs de la commune. La co-construction de scénarios prospectifs avec les acteurs locaux ont permis d'étudier l'évolution de l'offre et la demande en services à un horizon 2030

Ecosystem services in a mountain grassland socio-ecological system

Le concept de services écosystémiques est de plus en plus utilisé par différentes disciplines scientifiques et pris en compte dans les sphères politiques pour attirer l'attention sur les bénéfices que l'Homme reçoit des écosystèmes. Ce concept mène à étudier les liens complexes entre l'homme et son environnement. Cependant, la majorité des recherches actuelles restent théorique et peu de cas d'étude mettent à l'épreuve ce concept dans une démarche transdisciplinaire. Cette thèse à donc pour objectif principal de combler ce manque en explorant et analysant les dynamiques et processus des services écosystémiques en terme d'offre et de demande, y compris les effets de rétroactions, par une approche socio-écologique dans un contexte de changement planétaire. A cette fin, une étude transdisciplinaire a été conduite sur les prairies subalpines de la commune de Villar d'Arène (Hautes-Alpes) où l'élevage ovin et bovin domine. Des techniques de modélisations statistiques et de systèmes d'informations géographiques ont été combinées pour analyser la fourniture potentielle de services écosystémiques, conduisant à une cartographie de ceux-ci à l'échelle du paysage. La demande en services écosystémiques à quant à elle été étudiée par l'intermédiaire d'entretiens individuels et de groupes avec les acteurs locaux ainsi que des jeux de rôle avec les éleveurs de la commune. La co-construction de scénarios prospectifs avec les acteurs locaux ont permis d'étudier l'évolution de l'offre et la demande en services à un horizon 2030.The ecosystem service (ES) concept is increasingly used in different scientific disciplines and is spreading into policy and business circles to draw attention to the benefits that people receive from biodiversity and ecosystems. Nevertheless, while the number of case studies considering various dimensions of the interactions between ecosystems and land use via ES has been steadily increasing, integrated research addressing interrelationships between biodiversity, ES and land use has remained mostly theoretical. This thesis aims through a socio-ecological approach to understand: (1) Which ES are potentially delivered given ecological dynamics, (2) how these ES are perceived by stakeholders in terms of value and knowledge, (3) how human management affects ES delivery, and (4) how ES are taken into account in land management decisions, thereby considering feedbacks from ecosystem to the land use system through ES. To address these questions, an interdisciplinary study was conducted on Villar d'Arène (French Alps) a municipality where the subalpine landscape is shaped by extensive mountain livestock farming. Statistical modelling and geographical information systems where combined to analyse the determinants of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and ES within the landscape using ecological (including plant functional traits), biophysical and land-use data. The following ES were mapped: agronomic value, aesthetic value, water quality, carbon storage, soil fertility, soil moisture, conservation of plant diversity and pollination. These allowed us to quantify trade-offs and synergies in the current landscape and to identify key management types supporting multifunctionality. The dynamics of ES was projected under four different scenarios integrating climatic, socio-economic and land-use changes, which were developed using a participative approach with regional experts and local farmers. Analyses of projected scenario impacts showed that ES synergies and trade-offs evolve differently when considering direct effects of climate on ecosystems, and/or their indirect effects through farmers adaptive responses. Interviews with local stakeholders (experts from nature conservation and agricultural extension, farmers and inhabitants) of mountain grasslands showed that the ES concept is still relatively unknown in explicit terms. Nevertheless after defining ES to interviewees, they expressed a variety of relevant interests and knowledge. Although all stakeholders valued a common set of ecosystem services (agronomic value, aesthetic value, water quality, and conservation of plant diversity), we identified negative and positive representations of the effects of grassland management on ecosystem services, depending on stakeholders perceptions of the relationships between soil fertility and biodiversity, and biodiversity and the other services. Finally, a role-playing game explored how ES cognition mediated environmental feedbacks on farmers' behaviours. Results emphasized the influence of other factors such as socio-economic or climatic context, topographic constraints, social value of farming or farmer individual and household characteristics, on the link between ES and land-management decisions. This case study demonstrates the interest of an integrated approach decomposing the feedback loop from ecosystems to land use when studying ES for scientific or policy purposes

The effectiveness of marked-based instruments to foster the conservation of extensive land use: The case of Geographical Indications in the French Alps

tConsumers express a growing interest for local and quality foods certified by their origin and theirenvironmental production standards. This has led to the emergence of certified products meeting sus-tainability criteria. Because consumers are willing to pay a price premium for sustainably producedcommodities, these certifications act as market-based instruments to promote sustainable land use.Among Geographical Indications (GIs) labels, the two European Union GIs – called Protection of Designa-tion of Origin (PDO) and Protection of Geographical Indication (PGI) – can be considered as agriculturalproduct certification. These GIs identify a good as originating from a region where a given quality, repu-tation or other characteristic of the good is attributable to its geographical origin. Land use is potentiallyaffected by GIs because product characteristics are associated with the biophysical attributes of the terroirand some product specifications relate to land management practices. Little empirical evidence substan-tiates the claim that GIs have an impact on land use. The objective of this study was to understand whetherGeographical Indications are an effective market-based instrument to promote conservation of extensiveland use practices in marginal mountain areas. We conducted farm surveys along a gradient of GI require-ments for the following similar cheese products: Tomme de Savoie PGI, Tomme de Savoie EQC, and Tomedes Bauges PDO. We tested the hypothesis that the more stringent PDO requirements were associatedwith more extensive agricultural practices and provided more benefits to farmers. Results showed thatthe strict standards of PGI and PDO are associated with greater benefits for farmers and more extensiveagricultural practices. In comparison to PGI farmers, PDO farmers obtain higher price premiums and gainmore knowledge. More extensive practices are observed on PDO farms but the differences between labelsare minor. Our results also reveal a great variability in agricultural practices among farms of a same label.Farmers have various motivations for labelling their product

Une approche participative pour modéliser l'évolution des services écosystèmiques

International audienceSpatial representations of ecosystem services are increasingly being used by scientists and policy makers to guide management and adaptation. Mountain grassland ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate and societal changes, therefore anticipating changes in their services is essential. We modeled expected spatio-temporal trajectories of ecosystem services under a range of political and socio-economic scenarios for 2030. These scenarios were constructed using an advanced participatory approach with a variety of stakeholders. First, regional experts from nature conservation and agricultural extension were involved in the co-development of qualitative climatic and socio-economic scenarios, expressed as coherent storylines. Second, to translate these storylines into land management scenarios, we used a role playing game (an interactive "model" allowing to set players in a given situation and leading them to make decisions according to constraints) designed for farmers of the Lautaret study site (Central French Alps). Game outputs were interpreted to guide the mapping of future land management. Resulting changes in a range of ecosystem services as well as trade-offs were then projected using state-of-the-art ecological models. Results demonstrate the importance of considering not only direct climate effects on managed ecosystems but also its indirect effects through land management adaptation. Such findings support the importance of trans-disciplinary research

Taking into account farmers' decision making to map fine-scale land management adaptation to climate and socio-economic scenarios

International audienceMountain grassland ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to direct climate impacts and to indirect climate change impacts through farmers' management adaptation. We modelled expected spatio-temporal trajectories of land management of a mountain grassland landscape in the French Alps under a range of short-term climate and socio-economic scenarios which were constructed using an advanced participatory approach with a variety of stakeholders. First, regional experts from nature conservation and agricultural extension were involved in the co-development of detailed qualitative climate and socioeconomic scenarios, expressed as coherent storylines. Second, to map land management adaptation to these storylines, we used a role playing game whereby farmers were put in an imaginary future situation and asked to make decisions under scenario constraints. For each scenario, game outcomes were used to map future land management at parcels to landscape scales. Main adaptations were conversion from mowing to grazing and increasing manured area, with varying proportions and locations for these two types of changes differing across scenarios, though overall small. These results highlight the limited adaptability of current farmers given a strongly constraining natural and social context. Beyond research outputs, this framework generated interesting outcomes for stakeholders and raised their awareness about the socio-ecological system's vulnerability to future changes

Ecosystem services with their values attributed by farmer (number indicates the number of farmers giving this value to a service), sorted by decreasing order of average value.

<p>Ecosystem services with their values attributed by farmer (number indicates the number of farmers giving this value to a service), sorted by decreasing order of average value.</p

Drivers and related assumptions describing the four scenarios combining climatic and socio-economic alternatives (adapted from [61]).

<p>Drivers and related assumptions describing the four scenarios combining climatic and socio-economic alternatives (adapted from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0107572#pone.0107572-Lamarque4" target="_blank">[61]</a>).</p

Summary of the statistical analyses at parcel level (excluding alpine meadows).

<p>Variables used in each analysis are depicted by “X”. The three behavioral variables (manuring, mowing and mowing date) are dependent variables, the others are explanatory variables. ANOVA and Chi-square tests discriminate pairs of variables depicted by “X”. Regression results presented for each variables are parameter estimates and p-value. Significance levels:</p><p>* (0.05);</p><p>** (0.01);</p><p>*** (0.001), N = 217 parcels.</p><p>Data sources:</p>1a<p>Land managements and ^1b field functions from participatory photo mapping;</p>2<p>Digital elevation model;</p>3<p>Land use map;</p>4<p>ArcGIS Euclidian distance based on Land use and topographic maps.</p><p>Summary of the statistical analyses at parcel level (excluding alpine meadows).</p