> Rice genetics / Vietnam
preserving the environment
and its resources
improving the health of populations
in developing countries
understanding the evolution
of developing societies
25
32
36
excellence
in research
The scientific priorities of IRD fit within a global
framework dominated by climate change and a
significant loss of biodiversity, the increasing importance
of food safety issues, the appearance of emerging
infectious diseases, and the intensification and
growing complexity of globalisation. Understanding
the impact of these planetary changes on natural
ecosystems and societies is a major scientific
challenge and core issue in developing countries.
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 21
excellence in research
> New research instruments for partnerships
As part of its goal to develop research partnerships with developing countries and to strengthen a finalised research operator,
IRD has introduced new instruments: International Joint Research
Units (LMI - Laboratoires mixtes internationaux) and Regional Pilot
Programmes (PPR - Programmes pilotes régionaux).
These joint initiatives are intended to build the research capacity of scientific communities in developing countries, at national
and regional level, encouraging North-South and South-South part-
nerships in order to meet major global development challenges.
Most of the IRD units are PPR and/or LMI stakeholders.
Created on the basis of on the strategic priorities identified as
part of the 2011-2015 performance contract, the PPRs are coordination and governance structures for North-South equality which
bring together and organise a network of various North-South
research teams focused on multidisciplinary mutual objectives
at the regional level. They aim for the greater involvement of
developing country partners in setting up, managing and steering
> Research laboratory / Benin
page 22
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
49%
of co-publications with
southern partners
research programmes, strengthening the impact of research carried out by IRD and its partners for developing country societies,
supporting training and innovation, and ensuring favourable
conditions for obtaining co-funding for research in developing
countries.
In 2012, five new PPRs were approved in a variety of fields,
such as environmental dynamics, resources and societies in
Amazonia (AMAZ), heritage, resources and governance in Eastern
and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean (PAREGO), public policies, societies and globalisation in Sub-Saharan Africa (POLMAF),
risks, vulnerabilities and their impacts in the Andes (RIVIA) or even
soils, water, coastal areas and societies faced with risks in South
and Southeast Asia (SELTAR).
Launched in 2008, the International Joint Research Units
produced a working environment which included the close involvement of IRD teams and their partners. Located within the
partners’ premises, these operational structures are governed by
developed and developing countries. They are based on a long-term
commitment and offer a special opportunity to develop research,
training and innovation activities based on joint projects using
shared platforms (laboratories, equipment, electronic resources,
documentaries, etc.). Ten international joint research units
were created in 2012: seven in Sub-Saharan Africa, two in Latin
America and one in Asia. For example, the heritage and water territories joint research units were created in Senegal in collaboration
with several Senegalese and Mauritanian universities. Two other
joint research units were established in the health sector: one in
Gabon on zoonoses and the other in Cameroon and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo on infectious diseases.
excellence in research
increase in the number of joint publications
With developing countries
50%
40%
> Biological data analysis / New Caledonia
20%
> Publications: high visibility for IRD
The number of articles published by IRD researchers has
increased by approximately 3% and reached 1,270 references
in the Web of Science. This represents a 40% increase since 2006.
If we consider the scope of the Joint Research Units in which
IRD is involved, this scientific production represents more than
3,500 articles1.
The publications enjoy high visibility: 58% of these articles
are featured in high-impact journals in their category2 and
more than 11% in journals of excellence. Thus, 11 articles were
published in the Journal of Hydrology, 8 in PNAS, 7 in Remote sensing
of environment, 6 in Hydrology and earth system sciences, 5 in Plant
physiology, Plos pathogens, Science and 2 in Nature.
Each researcher contributes to two publications on average,
and 6% of the 778 published research engineers or technicians
have written more than five articles.
The rate of joint publication with developing countries has
now reached 49%. This increase is particularly striking in West
Africa and Latin America. The joint publications concern mainly
Senegal, Brazil, Peru, Cameroon, Benin and Burkina Faso.
30%
In social sciences (SHS), IRD researchers published 275 articles, 58 publications and 217 publication chapters included in
the Horizon database. A new indicator specific to social sciences
was established in 2011 for the performance contract; it is based
on a reference system created from AERES lists: 176 articles
correspond to this reference system, i.e. two-thirds of the article
production.
10%
0%
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
joint publications in developing countries
West and Central Africa
latin America
Asia, pacific
east Africa, southern Africa, indian ocean
north Africa, Middle east
increase in the number of publications
betWeen 2006 and 2011
At least one ird researcher among authors
publication of an ird join research unit
3,500
300
3,000
250
2,500
200
2,000
150
1,500
100
1,000
50
500
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
0
2009
2010
2011
1. The data applies to publications in 2011, since the year 2012 is still incomplete.
2. Subject categories of Web of science.
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 23
FOCUS
excellence in research
> Sample collection, MADANG mission / Papua New Guinea
the madang 2012 expedition
in a few figures
> For the land mission
• 8 study stations distributed from 200 to 3,700 m;
• 1,500 measured and identified trees;
• 620 plant specimens collected and placed in a herbarium;
• 3,858 samples collected, i.e. approximately half
a million insects;
• Probably more than 60% representing new species
for Science.
> For the marine mission
• 730 coastal samples and 150 samples taken from the sea
up to 1,000 m in depth;
• 400 coral species, 1,450 decapod crustacean species;
• 4,500 mollusc species;
• 320 shellfish species;
• 1,300 fish species;
• 300 algae species;
• Probably 500 to 1,000 new species for Science.
page 24
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
> Red-footed Booby, MOM-ALIS mission / New Caledonia
> Expeditions to learn about the land
Geologists and natural hazard specialists came together
to measure the movement of Vanikoro, an island located in the
Solomon Archipelago on the Pacific Ring of Fire, in an area where
the Australian Plate drops suddenly below the North Fiji Basin, on
the edge of the Pacific Plate.
The oceanic mission PANDORA made it possible to study the
characteristics and flow of the ocean waters in the region of the
Solomon sea, a key passage for the masses of water which flow from
the Southeast Pacific to the equator, and determine the climatic
variability of the equatorial Pacific.
Furthermore, the BIFURCATION campaign enabled an understanding of regional ocean circulation in the Coral Sea by documenting the fate of the water of one of the main currents in this
region, the North Caledonian Jet, when it meets the Queensland
plateau off the coast of Australia.
The seabird colonies of the Chesterfield Islands, at the heart
of the Coral Sea, were studied during the MOM-ALIS mission that
brought together IRD and CNRS researchers.
Several marine biologists set off for the first missions of the
PRISTINE project on the remote sites of the New Caledonia archipelago in order to carry out the first referencing of the marine
biodiversity of several nearly untouched sites of the South Pacific.
Lastly, as part of the international PIRATA programme, data
was collected from five meteorological and oceanic buoys in the
tropical Atlantic ocean.
in developing countries
Several exploration projects and expeditions have been carried out.
Six years after Santo 2006 in Vanuatu and two years after
Mozambique, IRD scientists, along with scientists from the National Museum of Natural History and Pro Natura International,
explored the terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Papua New
Guinea over three months as part of the MADANG 2012 mission.
The Pakaihi I Te Moana, respect the ocean campaign enabled
a better understanding of the biodiversity of the Marquesas
Islands while another expedition was undertaken on board the
French tuna seiner Torre Giulia in order to better understand the
behaviour of fish which cluster around the floating objects used
by fishermen.
> Marine biodiversity study, PRISTINE mission / New Caledonia
1
des recherches d’excellence tournées vers les suds • préserver l’environneMent et les ressourCes
Preserving
the environment
and its resources
IRD researchers are studying
the characteristics of tropical aquatic and
continental environments, climate change and
their effects on developing countries.
Conducted in close collaboration with various French scientists and
partner countries and focused on the Institute’s priority subject
areas, these studies concern primarily volcanic and seismic risks and
hazards, climate variability, water resources, the dynamics of natural
and operated systems, the conservation of biodiversity, food safety
and the sustainable management of sensitive environments, such as
forests, coastlines and even glaciers.
Observing, measuring and simulating in order to better assess
vulnerability, understanding and predicting the functioning of
natural ecosystems and those modified by humans, describing and
modelling to better manage and anticipate change, transferring and
sharing knowledge within increasingly structured communities at
the national and regional level: these actions form the basis of such
activities.
The work in question – which is primarily multidisciplinary – often
involves interactions or interfaces and increasingly combines environmental, health and social sciences. These studies are conducted
within the framework of joint research units or joint international
units.
protecting
caledonian mangroves
the retreat of the andean glaciers
conservation agriculture:
towards sustainable rural development
protecting lake titicaca
protecting crops from
biological attacks and insect pests
monitoring indonesian
volcanoes
26
27
28
29
30
31
957
researchers, engineers
and technicians
821
articles
Contact: der@ird.fr
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 25
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
protecting
caledonian
mangroves
A natural barrier against cyclones and coastal erosion,
in addition to a source of food, mangroves are vital
from both an ecological and economic perspective.
However, due to population growth, increasing
urbanisation, the development of industrial activities
and the exploitation of natural resources, this ecosystem
is disappearing at a rate of 1 to 2% per year worldwide.
> Mangrove affected by the mining activity / New Caledonia
A
new
caledonia
partner
Jacques Loquet
Chairman of the Voh heritage and
history association and the Koniambo
environmental committee.
“
The mangrove swamp is a highly coveted
environment from an economic perspective. Since the
dawn of time, people have lived off the products of
mangrove swamps. Given our responsibility for
environmental protection, we follow with keen interest
the work conducted by IRD, which demonstrates the
impact of mining operations on this ecosystem. In
particular, we are monitoring the new water management
systems which have been implemented.”
contact
Cyril Marchand – IMPMC Joint Research Unit
(IRD / CNRS / Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6)
cyril.marchand@ird.fr
Resources: Chemical Geology, Geoderma
page 26
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
mangrove swamp is a coastal forest which develops
between land and sea, with the lower part of the mangroves immersed in water. Such forests cover three
quarters of the tropical coastline, i.e. nearly 150,000 km2. In
New Caledonia, they cover nearly 80% of the island’s western
coast. This ecosystem comprises different areas, each dominated
by a specific mangrove species, depending on the topography
of the soil and the tidal immersion time.
This unusual ecosystem plays a fundamental role in the
carbon cycle due to its remarkable ability to transform atmospheric CO2 into organic matter. Together with primary tropical
forests, mangroves are the terrestrial ecosystem producing the
most biomass. IRD researchers have shown that carbon stock can
be estimated at 795 ± 65 tonnes per hectare of mangrove forest.
Of this stock, 83% is stored in the soil, 14% in above-ground biomass and 3% in root biomass. However, when decomposing, the
organic carbon stored produces CO2. The closer the mangrove
forest is to the ocean, the more its soil is waterlogged, leading to
reduced CO2 flows and a greater ability to trap this greenhouse
gas. However, the biodiversity and productivity of mangrove
forests depend on the type of climate in which they develop. The
aim is now to develop a mangrove observatory by carrying out
the same study in New Zealand, Vietnam and Senegal.
> CO2 measurements / New Caledonia
Furthermore, the New Caledonian mangrove acts as a buffer
zone between mined massifs, rich in iron, manganese, nickel,
chrome and cobalt, and the lagoon. Scientists have compared
the heavy metal concentrations of two mangroves: one located
downstream from a nickel mine and the other having an unexploited catchment area. The analysis of sediment core samples
taken at low tide in the different mangrove areas showed concentrations of metals such as iron, nickel and chrome that were 10
to 100 times higher downstream of mining sites. The researchers
also noted the biogeochemical processes specific to the various
mangrove species. Thus, without the dense plant network created by the mangrove forest, pollutant-laden sediments could be
remobilised towards the lagoon – a jewel of global biodiversity
and significant source of income for the local peoples.
Other studies have been conducted on the mangrove forests’
ability to act as a filter in relation to nutrient-rich effluents
from aquaculture. Shellfish, mollusc and plant samples have
enabled scientists to better understand the fate of discharges
and to determine the real ability of mangroves to act as a filter.
This work contributes to a better overall understanding
of the processes governing this ecosystem. It will enable the
implementation of suitable management systems in order to
minimise the impact of economic activities on mangroves.
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
theretreatofthe
andeanglaciers
Glaciers help regulate water resources throughout
the year. Apart from the exceptional biodiversity of
mountain ecosystems, millions of Andean inhabitants
also depend on such ecosystems for agriculture,
hydroelectric power and city consumption.
partner
ecuador
Patricio Andino
and Rodrigo Espinosa
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
y Naturales, PUCE, Ecuador.
“
Since 2008, PUCE1 and IRD have collaborated on
several projects concerning the study of glacial stream
biodiversity on the slopes of the Antisana volcano.
This revealed the fundamental role played by water
produced by melting glaciers for biological diversity,
which is in turn vital to maintaining the quality of the
water used downstream for the irrigation of land and the
consumption of the inhabitants of Quito. These studies
are also being conducted on other volcanoes in Ecuador,
in order to confirm the regional importance of glaciers
for the aquatic biodiversity of the Andean páramos.”
I
RD researchers and their partners analysed ice changes
across the entire tropical Andean region over more than
three centuries. By studying moraines, rocky deposits left
behind by the passage of glaciers which indicate their previous
positions, glaciologists were able to prove a spectacular retreat
over the last 30 years: the surface area of the glaciers of Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia have been reduced by 30 to 50% and
up to 80 to 100% in extreme cases. If temperatures continue to
rise, most of them could disappear by the end of the century,
thereby depriving many valley cities of water and deeply affecting
the Andean peoples.
The retreat of glaciers also endangers the biodiversity
of glacial streams. Ecologists have studied in particular the
aquatic fauna in the páramos, typical Andean ecosystems located
at an altitude of between 3,500 and 5,000 m. For over a year, they
took samples from glacial streams and listed several species, in
particular insects, which inhabit these extreme environments.
Their work shows that, as soon as the glacial coverage is reduced
to the point where it only covers 30 to 50% of the drainage basin,
several species begin to disappear. If the glaciers had to melt completely, nearly 40% of the species could disappear. In addition to
the loss of biodiversity created, the entire mountain ecosystem
could be disrupted. Insects play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter which enables the constitution of the
soil. Moreover, the consequences for other species, such as fish,
amphibians, birds and mammals, are hard to predict since the
ecological role of most threatened invertebrates is currently
still unknown. Lastly, insects provide a good indication of the
quality of the water supplied to cities downstream and can be
used as tools for better management of the resource.
The work conducted by IRD also concerns the plant recolonisation of land exposed by the melting ice. Within the context
of quick climate change, several barriers to this recolonisation
were revealed by researchers. Due to limited seed dispersal, only
certain species are able to quickly recolonise these areas. Furthermore, as the glacier retreats and moves away, weather conditions
for plants become increasingly difficult (more droughts), leading
to the disappearance of part of the species which colonised the
site. Lastly, as a result of the fast rise in temperatures, the founding plants which favour the creation of a new Alpine ecosystem
by forming a soil and providing protection against the cold and
droughts, have little time to colonise the ground before having
to compete with species from lower altitudes. All these factors
weaken Alpine plant communities.
In a context of global change, the aim of these various
studies is to improve forecasts in order to better anticipate future
impacts on Andean peoples and the unique biodiversity of these
regions.
> Water conductivity measurements in the Paramos / Ecuador
1. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.
contacts
Bernard Francou – LTHE Joint Research Unit
(CNRS-IRD-Université Joseph Fourier Grenoble 1)
bernard.francou@ird.fr
Olivier Dangles – BEI Research Unit
olivier.dangles@ird.fr
Fabien Anthelme – AMAP Joint Research Unit
(Cirad-CNRS-Inra-IRD-Université Montpellier 2)
fabien.anthelme@ird.fr
Resources: The Cryosphere, Nature climate change,
Journal of Vegetation Science, Plant Ecology & Diversity
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 27
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
conservation
agriculture:
towards
sustainablerural
development
Population growth and the impact of climate
change on natural resources require a 70% overall
increase in food production by 2050. However,
the intensive use of pesticides and industrial
agriculture are not sustainable. The implementation
of alternative methods is becoming imperative.
partner
tunisia
Pr Tahar Gallali
Tunis University.
“
The RIME-PAMPA project is both multidisciplinary and multicountry. In addition to the relevance of its subject area,
it is an important collaboration project with a special approach:
proper discussions during its design, the pooling of material
and human resources, and above all the structure provided by a
Research Master’s where our IRD colleagues accepted to share
teaching and supervision tasks with us. This commitment gives
full meaning to cooperation aimed at real knowledge sharing.”
contacts
Jean-Luc Chotte and Martial Bernoux – Eco&Sol Joint
Research Unit (Cirad-IRD-Inra-Montpellier SupAgro)
jean-luc.chotte@ird.fr / martial.bernoux@ird.fr
Christian Valentin – BIOEMCO Joint Research Unit
(AgroParisTech-CNRS-ENS Paris-Inra-IRD-Université
Paris 6-Université Paris 12)
christian.valentin@ird.fr
Resources: Journal of Arid Environments, European Journal of Agronomy,
Applied Soil Ecology, Outlook on agriculture
page 28
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
T
he cultivation technique of sowing under plant cover is
based on minimum mechanical soil disturbance, maintaining permanent plant cover and the direct sowing
of crops through plant cover. Also referred to as conservation
agriculture, it protects the soil against erosion and improves
its fertility through constant additions of organic matter and a
simulation of biological activities. However, this method requires
certain technical skills, in particular regarding the choice of
ground cover, which should not compete with cultivated crops.
The distribution of these systems is faced with several constraints:
social, cultural (disuse of ploughing), technical (training and
learning expenses) and organisational, thus requiring the implementation of supporting policies. The purpose of the RIME
PAMPA1 multidisciplinary project is to assess the advantages
and disadvantages of this technique in order to understand the
factors which will enable its adoption by farmers and ensure
sustainable rural development.
IRD researchers and their partners measured the environmental impacts of direct sowing at the landscape level in
Tunisia, Madagascar and Vietnam. Assessments of the density
of earthworm biomass and rain simulations enabled them to
demonstrate that this technique favours biological activity and
limits soil erosion. Through their decomposition, crop residues
remaining on the ground ensure the renewal of the nutrients
> Maize cultivated in combination with a forage cereal / Cameroon
required for the next crop. Earthworms replace the activities of
tilling and weeding. The researchers also compared the capacity
of conventionally farmed soils and soils using direct sowing
techniques to store carbon and assessed the stability and resilience of such storage faced with climate change.
Furthermore, scientists have identified the constraints
to adopting this system and are searching for alternatives.
On small family farms, agriculture is combined with cattle
breeding and manual labour is still very important. The lack
of long-term support to farmers, their low investment capacity
and the necessity of feeding cattle are further obstacles to the
development of conservation agriculture.
The soil and the value of its services are increasingly being
seen as natural capital. Thanks to bio-economic modelling and
a cost-benefit analysis of the direct sowing technique, the IRD
teams and their partners initiated discussions on the dynamics
and management of this capital.
This multidisciplinary approach regarding the impact of
sowing under plant cover on the environment and societies
made it possible to start more extensive discussions on managing agro-ecosystems in such a way as to ensure the sustainable
management of land while protecting soils and their fertility.
1. Multi-country support programme for agro-ecology.
> Soil carbon measurement / Tunisia
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
protecting
lake titicaca
The Altiplano region of Bolivia, located at an altitude
of 3,700m, is one of the main mining areas in the
world. Many precious and commercially important
metals are extensively mined in the region. However,
this highly polluting activity is carried out to
the detriment of peoples and ecosystems.
partner
bolivia
Dario Acha
Instituto de Ecología - Universidad
Mayor de San Andres, Bolivia.
“
This project brought together a network of
researchers from Bolivia, Peru and France, in order
to study the pollution of Lake Titicaca. This is the
largest lake in the Altiplano region, the main source
of fish protein for millions of people and the cradle of
Incan civilisation. It is also a major tourist attraction
and a unique environment. Despite alarming
reports on the decline of the fishing industry, very
little research has been conducted over the last
thirty years. The first results could have a major
impact on the protection of this ecosystem.”
contact
David Point – GET Joint Research Unit
(CNRS-IRD-Université Toulouse 3)
david.point@ird.fr
Resource: International workshop “Fonctionnnement et contamination
du lac Titicaca” (Functioning and Contamination of Lake Titicaca),
12-13 May 2011, Bolivia.
> Lake Titicaca / Bolivia
A
t the border between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca
covers approximately 8,500 km2. With 25 rivers emptying into the lake, it is at the centre of a great basin of
58,000 km2, which represents one of the main sources of food for
the native peoples along its shores.
The extraction of gold, silver, zinc, copper, bismuth, tin
and even antimony has resulted in considerable quantities of
mining waste being accumulated in this region for centuries
past. This waste is a persistent source of pollution for the peoples,
but also for the lake basin ecosystems characterised by a unique
biodiversity. We assume that the uncontrolled mining activities,
combined with extreme climatic conditions and the internal
characteristics of these high-mountain lakes, play an important role in the deterioration of ecosystems and massive losses
of biodiversity observed in the region. The fishing activity has
increased from 3,000 tonnes per year in 1992 to 500 tonnes per
year in 2005.
In collaboration with its French, Bolivian and Peruvian partners, IRD is conducting research into the biogeochemical cycle of
metallic pollutants and their dynamic in the lake ecosystem food
webs of the Titicaca Lake basin. By characterising the sediment,
water and various aquatic species through modern methods of
molecular and isotopic analysis for trace metals1, the researchers
are trying to identify the sources of contamination and their
ecological impact, in addition to the physicochemical and microbiological factors which control the transformation and mobility
of metal elements in the environment.
In particular, scientists are working on mercury, a powerful
neurotoxin which accumulates at all levels of the food chain.
Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable and
become contaminated by eating fish. In order to trace the source
of mercury pollution, they perform molecular and isotopic analyses throughout the ecosystem.
The study of contamination levels and their effect on the
Titicaca ecosystem is currently a priority for local native peoples and
Bolivian and Peruvian institutions alike. The research conducted
by IRD and its partners will enable a better understanding of the
processes involved, as well as their environmental and health
impacts in order to inform and guide the local authorities.
1. In the field of environmental assessment, the analysis of the isotopic composition of some metal
pollutants makes it possible to better differentiate the source of these pollutants and better understand
their reactivity.
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 29
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
protecting
cropsfrom
biologicalattacks
andinsectpests
The ability to protect cultivated plants from biological
attacks is an essential part of developing sustainable
agriculture and enabling food needs to be met. IRD teams
are conducting many projects for this purpose.
partner
burkina
faso
“
Drissa Sereme
Assistant Manager in the Laboratory
of Virology and Plant Biotechnologies
of the Environment and Agricultural
Research Institute (INERA) - Burkina Faso.
IRD and our laboratory have been collaborating for
several years. We worked together on the rice yellow mottle
virus due to its economic significance and originality as a
biological model. The findings are very promising for my
country. They should make it possible, on the one hand,
to offer effective and sustainable disease control strategies
to producers and, on the other hand, to consider the virus
not as an enemy but rather as a biotechnological tool used
in particular to manufacture vaccines.”
contacts
Michel Nicole – RPB Joint Research Unit
(Cirad-IRD-Université Montpellier 2)
michel.nicole@ird.fr – www.umr-rpb.fr
Jean-François Silvain – BEI Research Unit
jean-francois.silvain@ird.fr
Resources: European Journal of Plant Pathology, Plos Pathogens, Phytopathology, Plant Protection
Journal, Plos one, Bulletin of Entomological Research, Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
page 30
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
> On the left, plant afflicted with rice yellow mosaic virus / Burkina Faso
T
> Corn borer (Sesamia nonagrioide)
he study and responsible use of plant biodiversity are
necessary for the development of ecologically intensive agriculture. The genetically improved resistance
of cultivated species to pathogens and pests is a priority in an
agricultural economic context which encourages the reduction
of inputs and the use of phytosanitary products.
IRD researchers and their partners in West and East Africa,
Central and South America and Asia are studying the diversity
of and changes in viral, bacterial, fungal and nematode1 resistance genes in certain cultivated plants, such as the coffee tree,
rice, the banana tree and the coconut tree. These parasites have
developed specific infection strategies in order to keep their
host alive to complete their biological cycle. In particular, they
eliminate these defence mechanisms. Some of the research
conducted on rice concerns the understanding of these molecular mechanisms in order to offer sustainable resistance
management. By studying the rice yellow mottle virus, scientists
have isolated resistance-breaking strains in the African plant.
Furthermore, these studies cast new light on the little-known
causes and factors of emerging diseases. They contribute to the
implementation of effective and sustainable response methods.
Other teams are studying borer lepidopteran insects, which
caterpillars feed on in African grasses. Their work demonstrates
that these insects have been specifically subservient to this
plant family for millions of years and that their diversity has
increased significantly following the expansion of open savan-
nah-type environments. They underline the specialised nature
of current borers, which exploit only part of the potential host
plants as a result of various attraction stimuli, mediated in
particular by the sugar content of grasses. Based on the study
of populations from a single species, found in both wild and
cultivated resources, scientists also discovered that changes
in the food-seeking behaviour of insects, and therefore the acquisition of pest status, were influenced by a major gene: the
foraging gene. Different forms of this gene were found in the
noctuid caterpillar2 in populations associated with wild plants
on the one hand, and maize on the other hand.
Lastly, climate change will have a growing impact on natural and man-made ecosystems and on parasites and pests. In
this regard, the young associated team KENCCA3 is conducting a
project concerning the impact of these changes on the agricultural system in Kenya. In addition to these studies, an analysis
of the impact of soils with high silica content on the activity of
grass borers in maize plantations is underway.
Thus, these multidisciplinary projects aim to develop
knowledge of the aetiology of plant diseases and the behaviour
of pathogenic microorganisms and pests. They will make it
possible to better protect crops and strengthen food safety in
developing countries.
1. Invertebrate animal from the worm group.
2. Sesamia nonagrioides.
3. Kenyan Climate Change and Adaptation.
excellence in research • preserving tHe environMent And its resourCes
monitoring
indonesian
volcanoes
With more than 120 active volcanoes across 4,000 km
of the archipelago and 10 eruptions per year on average,
Indonesia is the country most exposed to volcanic
hazards in the world. The very high population density
across these islands means a large amount of inhabitants
are extremely vulnerable. Improved monitoring is a true
challenge for this archipelago.
indonesia
partner
Dr Surono
Director of the Indonesian Centre
for Volcanology and Geological
Hazards Mitigation.
“
I am happy to welcome IRD agents and I expect this
collaboration to provide research material on specific subjects
which will help my decision-making in order to reduce risks
and prevent human deaths as far as possible. Research is
often contributed after eruptive events, in an attempt to
understand how the eruption occurred, among other reasons.
This approach is desirable, but in order to make important
decisions in the event of a crisis, the studies conducted with
IRD before and during the eruptions are essential.”
contacts
Philipson Bani - LMV Joint Research Unit
(CNRS-IRD-Université Blaise Pascal-Université Jean Monnet)
philipson.bani@ird.fr
Jean-Philippe Metaxian - ISTerre Joint Research Unit
(CNRS-Ifsttar-IRD-Université Grenoble 1 – Université de Savoie)
jean-philippe.metaxian@ird.fr
Jean-Paul Toutain - IRD representative in Indonesia
jean-paul.toutain@ird.fr
Resources: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
E
very year, the Indonesian population suffers the consequences of volcanic eruptions. IRD collaborates with the
Indonesian centre for the reduction of volcanic hazards1,
which monitors 76 of the archipelago’s active volcanoes. The
multidisciplinary project MEGAVOL 2 aims therefore to develop new monitoring methods suited to the specific context of
Indonesian volcanism and directly applicable to the local volcanic
hazard management system.
Another component of this programme is the creation of
an instrumental platform enabling the optimal analysis of the
geophysical and geochemical data transmitted by the stations
located on the sides of volcanoes. It will enable warning signals
to be detected as soon as possible.
The aim is also to expand the volcanic monitoring network
by 2014 so that each active volcano may be equipped with at least
one station. This is the case on the Moluccas archipelago which is
comprised of five very active volcanoes: Gamalama, Gamkonora,
Kebesi, Ibu and Dukono. The monitoring system for these
volcanoes is insufficient. Only one to two seismic stations were
set up per volcano. This is why IRD was requested to strengthen
this monitoring network. The researchers will initially work
on the Gamalama and Dukono volcanoes, at the foot of which
two of the archipelago’s main cities were built, each counting
50,000 inhabitants. Four stations will be established in 2013.
The IRD researchers and their partners are also studying
Merapi, one of the most active and explosive volcanoes in
Indonesia. Located on the island of Java about 30 kilometres from
the city of Yogyakarta, it threatens more than 500,000 people.
Its most recent eruption, in 2010, required 300,000 people to
be evacuated within a radius of 20 km, greatly disrupting the
region’s social and economic balance. Two hundred people were
killed. Therefore, improved monitoring and the management of
such hazards are considered a priority for Indonesian authorities.
Although scientists recognise the early signs of an eruption, it is
difficult to predict the intensity. Volcanoes are complex systems
of magma transfer from deep areas up to the surface and each
stage results in physicochemical changes of the lava causing
the type of eruption. The DOMERAPI3 programme is intended to
study the magma reservoirs and eruptive processes of the Merapi
volcano. Ultimately, it will lead to a better understanding of these
processes in order to better predict the impact of eruptions on
the populations.
By improving the volcano monitoring system and local scientific expertise, the projects conducted by IRD and its partners in
Indonesia will also support local authorities with the implementation of more effective prevention policies, risk management
policies and population protection policies.
1. Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazards Mitigation, CVGHM.
2. Geophysical methods for monitoring.
3. ANR programme - Dynamics of an arc volcano with lava domes, the Merapi.
> Monitoring of Talang volcano / Indonesia
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
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33
34
35
2
des recherches d’excellence tournées vers les suds • AMéliorer lA sAnté des populAtions du sud
a natural alternative to antibiotics
in the poultry industry
towards the elimination
of sleeping sickness
a new approach to vaccine
manufacturing
imProving the health
of PoPulations in
develoPing countries
390
researchers, engineers
and technicians
425
articles
Contact: dsa@ird.fr
page 32
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
The health of populations is a major challenge
for IRD and lies at the heart of the Millennium
Development Goals.
Research activities in the field of health are part of four main subject
areas: infectious diseases and in particular those related to poverty,
such as malaria, HIV infection or tuberculosis, rare or neglected
diseases and emerging infectious diseases. In addition to the basic
research, the following subjects are addressed: access to prevention,
health care and treatment, developments in terms of diagnostic
methods, medicine, vaccines and vector control.
So-called “lifestyle diseases”, the main causes of morbidity and
mortality in developed countries, are occurring more frequently in
developing countries. Therefore, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular
diseases are extensively studied.
Nutrition is still a major problem in developing countries and widely
studied by the scientists of the Institute in Africa and Southeast Asia.
The research concerns public health and metabolism, the assessment
of needs and the availability of macro- and micronutrients, in order to
improve the care provided to populations.
Lastly, environmental and health concerns are becoming increasingly
important in cross-disciplinary actions and collaborations with many
scientists from universities and research institutions in France and
other partner (developed or developing) countries.
excellence in research • iMproving tHe HeAltH of populAtions in developing Countries
a natural
alternative
to antibiotics
in the poultry
industry
fully ingested by the animals. Scientists could thus identify the
plant extracts capable of stimulating chicken growth. These
properties were confirmed in a second stage at pilot scale, in
partnership with a company. The researchers showed that the
effect of this plant-based food supplement was comparable to
that of commercially used antibiotics. Furthermore, the selected
plant and its active agent are abundant in tropical regions.
The Peruvian poultry industry produces 40 million chickens per month. This promising discovery could also help
reduce the use of antibiotics in industrial poultry farms and
limit the outbreak of resistant bacteria, which are dangerous
for animals and humans alike. It is the subject of a filed international patent and the project partners hope to license the
patent to manufacturers capable of producing the substance
that will become part of the feed ration for poultry.
While the use of antibiotics as growth promoters for
commercial poultry has been prohibited in Europe and
Japan for several years, they are still used in the Americas.
However, this practice could foster the outbreak of
resistant bacteria capable of infecting humans. Ongoing
research could provide an alternative to these practices.
> Medicinal plants on the market in Iquitos / Peru
peru
“
partner
Rosario Rojas
assistant director of the LAVI
international joint research unit, lecturer
at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru.
Each partner in this project contributed
complementary scientific expertise. For the first time
ever, my university launched a collaborative project and
negotiations with a major company. We were able to
benefit from IRD’s experience in the area. This work will
enable Peru to develop a useful product for the country’s
economic development based on its biodiversity.”
contact
Michel Sauvain – PHARMA-DEV Joint
Research Unit (IRD-Université Toulouse III)
michel.sauvain@ird.fr
Resource: pCt patent no. 1662/2012
> Intensive chicken farming / Peru
M
odern animal production systems use antibiotics and
other antimicrobials in disease prevention and treatment. Since the 1950s, some specialised farmers have
also used antibiotics to stimulate animal growth. Thus, they
achieve better weight gain, which in turn enables them to speed
up the marketing of their production. However, the intensive
and repeated use of antibiotics leads to the development of
resistance, especially in certain bacteria of the digestive tract,
which could infect humans. This resistance limits treatment
options, delays healing and increases the associated costs.
IRD researchers and their partners in Peru are working
on Andean and Amazonian medicinal plants to identify the
molecules or molecular groups with strong pharmacological
properties. They have studied the possibility of using aromatic
plants or those used in conventional medicine as an alternative to growth-promoting antibiotics in commercial poultry
breeding.
Thirteen plant extracts were thus selected and administered to chickens throughout their growth. Excepting one of
these extracts, they were tolerated well and the dose levels were
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 33
excellence in research • iMproving tHe HeAltH of populAtions in developing Countries
towards the
elimination of
sleeping sickness
Human African Trypanosomiasis is one of the ten
neglected tropical diseases targeted by the London
Declaration of 2012 which, based on the roadmap
established by the World Health Organisation,
commits the international community to eradicating
these pathologies by 2020. The ongoing research,
in particular in Guinea, will eventually provide new
tools to achieve this objective of elimination.
partner
burkina
faso
“
Jean-Baptiste Rayaisse
Entomologist at CIRDES
and coordinator of JEAI
ECOVECTRYP – Burkina Faso.
Our collaboration with IRD, which operates in
several countries, has enabled us to forge subregional
partnerships. We have also benefited from technology
transfer facilities. Thanks to this work, CIRDES (the
international centre of research and development of
the livestock sub-humid zone) was designated a WHO
collaborative centre in the battle against sleeping sickness.
Furthermore, a network of researchers was established
around JEAI ECOVECTRYP, which facilitates collaboration
on cross-cutting subject areas at the subregional
level, in particular with Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.”
contact
Philippe Solano – INTERTRYP Joint
Research Unit (Cirad-IRD)
philippe.solano@ird.fr
Resource : PLOS Neglected tropical diseases
page 34
S
leeping sickness, or Human African Trypanosomiasis
(HAT), is caused by a protozoan parasite, the trypanosome
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. The latter is transmitted
through a vector insect, the tsetse fly. To date, there is no vaccine,
preventive treatment against HAT, or any repellent to ward off
the vector. The treatments, based on already existing molecules,
are difficult to administer and sometimes toxic.
Therefore, IRD researchers and their partners in West Africa
monitored infected subjects refusing the treatment over 15 years.
They noted the ability of some patients to control the level of
parasites in their blood, just like the trypanotolerance phenomenon described in certain farm animals. Other patients are
seropositive, i.e. they have specific antibodies, but their blood
shows no parasites. These subjects could carry a latent infection.
Until now, however, the fight against HAT has been based purely
on a screening and treatment strategy. Thus, only subjects with
trypanosomes as revealed through microscopy are treated. Therefore, seropositive patients who are not found to have parasites
are not treated, although they could potentially transmit the
disease. This work suggests that the pathology will be eliminated
through the consideration of factors other than the screening of
parasites in the blood in order to implement treatment. It also
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
> Tsetse fly trap installation / Guinea
opens up new research avenues to better understand the genetic
and immune factors enabling certain patients to tolerate the
trypanosome infection where others die as a result.
In a complementary manner, an epidemiological study
conducted in the Boffa prefecture in Guinea reveals the importance of the fight against the tsetse fly and its complementary
role in the screening and treatment strategy. The struggle for
vector control, based on trapping the tsetse fly, interrupts the
parasitic cycle and represents the only currently available means
of prevention to keep humans from suffering an infectious bite.
Scientists have created a map of populations, cattle, tsetse flies
and trypanosomes in the area. They showed that the high mobility
of populations in Boffa and their activities in the mangrove forest
increase contact with the tsetse fly and limit the effectiveness
of medical supervision. Under these conditions, screening and
treatment alone prove to be insufficient when not combined
with the setting of tsetse fly traps.
These findings have been taken into consideration by the
international community and the WHO, which recommends
incorporating the struggle for vector control and the monitoring
of seropositive subjects into strategies for eliminating sleeping
sickness.
excellence in research • iMproving tHe HeAltH of populAtions in developing Countries
anewapproach
tovaccine
manufacturing
Several emerging diseases are caused by RNA viruses
transmitted by arthropods. The numerous Dengue,
Rift Valley fever and Chikungunya epidemics have
significantly affected the health of populations over
the last few decades, highlighting the importance of
better understanding the functioning and evolution
of these viruses in order to quickly find new treatment
options or vaccines.
partner
australia
Prof. Edward C. Holmes
University of Sydney.
“
This collaborative project with IRD has proven to be very
interesting and, in my opinion, two of our observations will
have a major impact. On the one hand, genomic re-encoding
is a safe and effective way to develop a vaccine for the
Chikungunya virus and could be adapted to other similar
viruses. On the other hand, this work provided us with
information on the evolution of viruses: they were unable to
restore their ability to replicate by correcting the mutations
introduced by genomic re-encoding, and tried to do so
(in a very incomplete manner) by developing new mutations
which change viral proteins.”
A
ntiviral vaccines are an essential component of the
international public health policy and have considerable
health benefits, in particular for children: it is estimated
that more than 2-3 million deaths per year are prevented
through vaccination. The most effective and least expensive
are so-called “live attenuated” vaccines. Infectious agents are
multiplied in a laboratory until they lose their pathogenic
potential. The strains obtained are then unable to fully develop
the disease, but retain their ability to produce an immune
reaction. These vaccines are usually more effective than those
comprised of inactivated infectious agents and provide longlasting protection after fewer injections. They are therefore
particularly well suited to populations in resource-poor
countries.
However, preparing these vaccines is no easy task. The
attenuation of the virulence of vaccine strains is a complex
phenomenon which is particularly difficult to control. Therefore, many viral pathologies have no vaccine and, should a new
virus emerge (a repeated phenomenon over the last few decades),
it is difficult to attempt to quickly produce such vaccines.
IRD researchers and their partners have developed an
innovative method to manufacture attenuated viruses,
representing potential candidate vaccines. As a model, they
used the Chikungunya virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti and
> 3D structure of the chikungunya virus
> Mosquito vector of chikungunya
Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and which has infected several
million human beings over the last few decades. This virus has a
genome composed of an RNA molecule. This type of virus has
the peculiarity of presenting very high mutation rates. Through
genomic re-encoding, scientists have introduced mutations
into the virus genome without changing the viral proteins,
and obtained artificially recomposed viral genomes associated
with reduced virulence. This method, which can be applied
to several viral pathogens, can be implemented within a very
short timeframe and, furthermore, facilitates the production
of attenuated viruses. This could lead to a dramatic change
in the current approach to manufacturing antiviral vaccines.
This work represents an innovative avenue for the production of new-generation attenuated viral vaccines.
> Vaccination
contacts
Xavier de Lamballerie and Antoine Nougairède
EPV Joint Research Unit (Aix-Marseille University-EHESP-EFS-IRD)
xavier.de-lamballerie@univ-amu.fr / antoine.nougairede@univ-amu.fr
Resource: PLOS Pathogens
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
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37
38
39
waters and territories
of the deltas in east africa
international dissemination of knowledge:
challenges in developing countries
indigenous peoples and
environmental issues
232
researchers, engineers
and technicians
275
articles
58
books
217
books chapters
Contact : dso@ird.fr
page 36
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
3
understanding
the evolution of
develoPing societies
The social science research conducted
aims to analyse the human and social
factors at the heart of the development
of developing countries.
Anthropologists, economists, geographers, demographers, historians, linguists, sociologists, political scientists and archaeologists
structure their studies around three major subject areas which
are of crucial importance for developing countries: development
and governance, vulnerability, inequality and growth; social and
spatial dynamics and boundaries.
This work, conducted at local, transnational and comparative
levels, enables a dialogue to be established with all players in the
society, be they decision-makers or citizens. It aims to understand
the foundations upon which developing societies are built and
the transformations which characterise them today, in particular
through the study of migration, heritage preservation, religious
movements, social inequality and the various forms of vulnerability faced by these societies. This research is open to interdisciplinary cooperation.
excellence in research • understAnding tHe evolution of developing soCieties
waters and
territories
of the deltas in
east africa
Deltas are considered to be some of the world’s
most productive environments and are home to rich
biodiversity. They often fall victim to flooding, while their
natural resources have historically been exploited by
multiple users. However, the construction of large dams
upstream combined with intensive agriculture is changing
the functioning of these wetlands, with negative
consequences for local economies and increased tension
between communities.
> Well water analysis in the village of Ozi / Kenya
partner
kenya
Dorothy Wanja Nyingi
Coordinator of the KENWEB Young
Team Associated to IRD, Kenya.
“
The KENWEB1 research group was funded by IRD’s JEAI
(Young Teams Associated to IRD) programme. This team fills
a long-standing void between researchers and decision-makers
regarding the management of the Kenyan wetlands. The
fact that the team is comprised of a network of researchers
brought together through mutual trust and working together in the long term and not within the strict framework
of a specific project enables us to apply inventive research
methods and to devote time to mentoring students.”
1. Kenyan Wetland Biodiversity Research Group.
contact
Stéphanie Duvail – PALOC Joint Research Unit
(IRD-French national museum of natural history)
stephanie.duvail@ird.fr
Resources: Hydrological Sciences Journal, Water Alternatives
T
he Tana and Rufiji River deltas are unknown parts of the
East African coast and often presented as vacant areas to be
developed. Far from being underutilized lands, these are
on the contrary real “cultural landscapes”: a patchwork of forests
and flood plains shaped through centuries of intensive use for
the purposes of rice-growing, cattle breeding, fishing, gathering
and more according to the rhythms of the river floods. The deltas
are also home to great biological diversity and provide a unique
haven for several endemic species.
IRD researchers and their partners from the young KENWEB
team are working in an effort to better understand the functioning
of these ecosystems and the practices of the local communities
which rely on them. They have modelled the hydrological
functioning of these deltas, studied the availability of natural
resources and described the practices of local users. Their findings
show that the seasonal flooding patterns of the Tana and Rufiji
rivers play an important role in the lives of populations in the
East African deltas. In Kenya, decreased river flows and rainfall,
in addition to the pressure created by the hydroelectric and
industrial farming industries, compel populations to develop
survival strategies resulting in an excessive and conflictual
> Tana River Delta / Kenya
concentration of farmers, breeders and fishermen in the few
remaining production areas.
The combined French, Kenyan and Tanzanian research
team decided to implement a participative research approach
involving local populations in determining research goals,
throughout data collection and by jointly analysing the findings.
Hydro-climatic, halieutic, agricultural and food monitoring has
thus been carried out in close collaboration with the communities, which also created a map of the territory. This research
method in particular allows local knowledge sharing and fosters
discussions through results workshops organised on the ground.
The data collected has been provided to consultancies responsible
for measuring the impact of the dams upstream of the deltas,
in addition to Ministries, NGOs and local populations in order
to initiate a dialogue with these various players concerning the
future of the deltas.
This multidisciplinary collaboration has in particular influenced the classification of the Tana delta as a Ramsar site,
based on an international convention for the sustainable management of wetlands.
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 37
excellence in research • understAnding tHe evolution of developing soCieties
international
disseminationof
knowledge:
challengesin
developing countries
In Mexico, the issues of student and professional mobility,
in addition to the outcomes of governmental and corporate
programmes aimed at fostering international exchanges,
are receiving growing interest from researchers. However,
the knowledge produced remains insufficient and we are
still largely unaware of the effects of this new mobility on
the scientific dynamics of the countries concerned.
partner
mexico
Sylvie Didou
Researcher at DIE/CINVESTAV,
OBSMAC programme coordinator.
“
The five-year collaboration between CINVESTAV
and IRD has encouraged discussions on subject areas
given little coverage in the educational research agenda
in Mexico: incoming and outgoing scientific mobility,
public training policies abroad, return migration, student
exchanges and academic cooperation. Two international conferences, held in 2009 and 2012, involved Latin
American and European partners in our discussions and
diversified networks, approaches and expertise.”
S
cience is becoming a world system; researchers and students no longer think twice about leaving their country of
origin. Several host programmes have been established to
attract qualified migrants. Thus, in 2009, nearly 196,000 students
from Latin America and the Caribbean studied abroad, primarily
in North America and Europe. However, the occurrence of these
exchanges remains relatively unknown. IRD researchers, in collaboration with a team from CINVESTAV1 and supported by IESALC/
UNESCO2, have implemented observation systems such as the
Mexican observatory on academic and scientific mobility, and the
international observatory on academic mobility between developing and developed countries, which analyse the development
and impact of the movement of people and knowledge between
developing and developed countries.
How are scientific methods transmitted from one community
to another? How does the migration of researchers and students
encourage the dissemination of knowledge, which knowledge in
particular, and why? How does imported knowledge change the
way of dealing with scientific problems? By studying the dissemination of knowledge based on historiographical and sociological approaches, in particular through the assessment of public policies,
IRD researchers and their partners in Mexico are trying to provide
answers to these questions. In particular, they are studying how
knowledge production sites such as laboratories and study areas
are changing through the movement of “bearers of knowledge”
such as students and researchers. Thus, this work enables a better
understanding of the development of the fields of research and
higher learning in the country.
The geographic mobility of researchers is no longer the only
method of knowledge dissemination. Knowledge is not only disseminated in physical space. The real world – that of offices and
laboratories – has expanded over the last ten to fifteen years to
include a virtual world: that of machine-based communication.
Thus, major international laboratories are able to bring together
researchers from a variety of countries around a single programme
and to start projects conducted remotely by teams that only meet
very rarely and for very short periods of time. The COSINUS3 project
endeavours to observe the virtual communities or collectives which
make up the researchers’ social and professional environment. It
focuses on the potential for international and interdisciplinary
collaboration specific to these structures. The research conducted
as part of this project will provide assistance to the development of
public policies intended to foster national cooperation, make heavy
equipment cost effective, boost a locally underdeveloped sector and
even enable the processing of large volumes of observational data.
1. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional.
2. Instituto Internacional de la UNESCO para la Educación Superior en América Latina y el Caribe.
3. International scientific cooperation in the South-North digital world.
training centres
for mexican researchers
during the 2000-2010 decade.
Cornu J.F. (IRD, UMR 207 BOREA)
Gérard E. (IRD, UMR 196, CEPED)
Source: SNI 2010
contacts
Étienne Gérard and Pascal Renaud
CEPED Joint Research Unit (Ined-IRD-Université Paris Descartes)
etienne.gerard@ird.fr / pascal.renaud@ird.fr
Resources: international knowledge dissemination conference
9-11 october 2012 – Mexico
number of doctorates
5,000
1,000
250
page 38
IRD • AnnuAl report 2012
0
5,000
10,000 km
excellence in research • understAnding tHe evolution of developing soCieties
indigenous
peoples and
environmental
issues
The lives of indigenous peoples, traditional societies
and local communities are closely tied to the natural
environments on which they depend. The custodians of
biological and cultural diversity, they possess ancestral
knowledge and know-how which could provide invaluable
insight into global change. More often than not, however,
these peoples are threatened, deprived from free access to
their natural resources and politically marginalised.
partner
cameroon
Shey Wilfred Mbunda
I
ndigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities account for more than 350 million people in over
70 countries in the world and represent about 5,000 languages
and cultures. The guardians of a unique spiritual, cultural and
biological heritage, they see themselves as an integral part of the
environment which they have exploited sustainably for thousands
of years. Thanks to the combined efforts of researchers and local
communities, UNESCO has recognised the vulnerability of these
peoples and established biosphere reserves1 in order to reconcile
the protection of natural and cultural diversity with economic and
social development. IRD ethnobiologists are aware of the importance of this naturalistic expertise and knowledge. They are working in close collaboration with these peoples, making them true
research partners. Their studies consist of viewing biodiversity and
major environmental challenges through the prism of a culture.
In particular, researchers have analysed ancient beekeeping
practices as part of the Sentimiel programme. Bees are pollinators which help maintain 65% of biodiversity. However, they are
disappearing under the combined effect of pollution, urban development, the industrial production of honey and climate change.
Researchers have studied the knowledge and expertise of honey
hunters in developing countries, their views on the changes underway and their adaptive strategies. As such, they have listed a great
variety of bee species and traditional harvesting methods, in addition to showing that honey hunters have very specific knowledge
on the behaviour of bees. By observing these true custodians of the
environment, forest peoples are informed of changes underway
and can adapt their practices to protect natural resources. Furthermore, this work has demonstrated the strong interaction between
humans and bees and the parallel between the disappearance of
these insects and that of ancestral beekeeping practices.
In order to increase public awareness of the considerable
cultural contribution made by these peoples in terms of sustainable development, IRD researchers and the International
Ethnobiology Society have organised a conference promoting
discussions between representatives of indigenous peoples from all
five continents, scientists, academics and the general public. This
exceptional forum provided an opportunity to prove the crucial
role played by cultural diversity in biological diversity.
Through an approach based on science, ethics and citizenship,
this work endeavours to better address the knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities in order to enrich the policies,
decisions and actions implemented to ensure an equitable and
sustainable future for generations to come.
1. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
Beekeeper of Mount Oku – Cameroon.
> Traditional honey harvesting / Kenya
“
The farmer in me was greatly honoured to be invited
by IRD to attend the Montpellier Conference and to
be able to contribute to the Sentimiel project. The goal
of supporting traditional honey production helps
protect the environment and support the local farming
economy. We have now begun to mobilise farmers and
to ensure their involvement in the ideals of the
Sentimiel project.”
contact
Edmond Dounias – CEFE Joint Research Unit
(CNRS, Montpellier Universities 1,2 and
3, Sup Agro, Cirad, IRD and Inra).
edmond.dounias@ird.fr
Resources: 13th conference of the international ethnobiology society Cultural and biological diversity 20-25 May 2012 - Montpellier
AnnuAl report 2012 • IRD
page 39