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Integrating Ecosystem Services and Multifunctionality for the Preservation of Peri-Urban Agricultural Lands: Multi-level Analysis in the case of the Ile-de-France Region

Composition du jury

Abstract

Peri-urban agriculture is in great challenge because of the pressure from urban extension or the expansion of natural and recreational spaces. Multifunctional Agriculture (MFA) and Ecosystem Services (ES) are two strategies that recognize and manage multiple services and disservices from agriculture beyond food and material production. MFA and ES are closely related and highly complementary. Each has advantages and also shortcomings. However, the two communities have limited interaction and exchange.

The objective of the dissertation is to contribute to integrated approaches of MFA and ES for peri-urban agricultural research. It (i) develops an integrated framework of ES and MFA for peri-urban agriculture based upon a comparative review on agricultural research working on the two strategies and application in the Region of Ile-de-France, (ii) and also demonstrates how the integrated approach of MFA and ES works on concrete problems linked to peri-urban agriculture with two in-depth studies on management of abandoned farmlands and agricultural recycling of urban wastes in Ile-de-France Region, respectively. Multi-scale analyzes were carried out for the two in-depth studies.

The integrated framework of ES and MFA for peri-urban agriculture distinguishes four categories of ES/function combinations:
(i) includes provisioning ES and related functions.(ii) landscape amenity and cultural ES and related functions. (iii) agricultural recycling of urban wastes and the underpinning ES of waste breaking down and fertilization. (iv) environmental functions, which characterize the contributions of farmers to the maintaining of multiple regulating and supporting ES in agro-ecosystem and surrounding semi-natural habitats.

The in-depth study about management of abandoned farmlands identifies that land abandonment in urban area is especially linked to the New Towns and the pole of Airport Charles-de-Gaulle. In rural area, the reason is usually linked to poor agronomical conditions. Perceptions of local actors of ES and disservices of abandoned farmlands differ with the geographical area and scale. The actors prefer a MFA strategy for the reuse of abandoned farmlands.

The second in-depth study finds out that the production of sewage sludge spatially mismatches with the distribution of agricultural lands. Land application of sewage sludge is withdrawing from the peri-urban area in the western part of Ile-de-France. Contrarily, green waste compost is becoming popular. A framework concludes the multiscale influences on the supply-demand relationship regarding urban wastes, followed by a classification of seven categories of farmers.

The integrated framework of ES and MFA, and the multi-scale approach for in-depth studies will be interesting for application in other conditions. Comparison between different countries will help to understand the differences and common points in ranking the importance of different functions and formulate efficient instruments for the preservation of peri-urban agriculture.

Keywords

Ecosystem Service, Multifunctionality, peri-urban agriculture, land use change, multi-scale, Ile-de-France