Université du Québec en Outaouais
Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Jérôme Dupras
Start: 2022-05-01
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Project

Understanding conservation obstacles in southern Quebec through the lens of ecosystem services
This research project explores how the ecosystem service approach could improve social acceptability of conservation measures. Protected areas are crucial to protect biodiversity, mitigate and adapt to climate change but their implementation remains tedious and is tied to several constraints, especially in high density areas like southern Quebec. Through quantitative and qualitative methods, this project uses the ecosystem service approach that links human needs and the functioning of ecosystems. In three counties of the Monteregie region, five ecosystem services are modelled and mapped using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) toolbox. Provisionning areas and land tenures are identified to further link demand and flow of ecosystem services. Local stakeholders are interviewed to identify their perception on their environment and their landscape needs which will be spatialized as ecosystem service demand and actual provisioning areas. These interviews also aim to highlight land management priorities and stakeholder agency towards ecosystem services. Finally, a participatory workshop including conservation and local stakeholders will be held to communicate interview results and discuss how conservation mechanisms could better preserve important ecosystem services and acknowledge local realities. Provision and demand of ecosystem services, as well as the management capacity of local stakeholders will be analysed through modelling, speech analysis and participatory mapping. Results aim to generate recommendations to facilitate the implementing of conservation measures that fit with local realities and ecosystem services priorities and preferences.

Keywords

Modélisation, modelling, ecosystem services, services écosystémiques, Conservation