Collaborative modeling and simulation to mitigate high-elevation rangeland degradation inEastern Bhutan

Raj Gurung Tayan, Le Page Christophe, Trébuil Guy. 2022. Collaborative modeling and simulation to mitigate high-elevation rangeland degradation inEastern Bhutan. Mountain Research and Development, 42 (4) : 14-24.

Liste HCERES des revues (en SHS) : oui

Thème(s) HCERES des revues (en SHS) : Géographie-Aménagement-Urbanisme-Architecture

Résumé : The contribution of overgrazing to high-elevation rangeland degradation is a problem across the Himalayan region, and it leads to tensions among users. In the alpine areas of eastern Bhutan, 2 communities of settled and seminomadic herders have been engaged in enduring open conflict over access to a large natural pasture. To reestablish a communication channel between these communities, a participatory modeling and simulation process was implemented with the concerned stakeholders. A training workshop on this collaborative approach and its key tools, particularly computer-assisted role-playing games, was attended by research and extension officers and was immediately followed by a field workshop attended by 6 herders from each community. The participants used their empirical knowledge to improve the relevance of the spatial distribution of the land degradation problem on the proposed game board. They also established a link between the features and rules of the role-playing game and the actual circumstances of the rangeland. The gaming sessions allowed the participants to share their respective viewpoints on the land degradation process in a nonthreatening environment. The assessment of the field workshop identified multiple effects regarding awareness of the problem, participants' confidence, colearning, and mutual trust. This intervention enabled the emergence of social capital ahead of the preparation of major development-oriented interventions in the watershed. This study demonstrates the pertinence of using simple but relevant abstract models, codesigned with their users, to mitigate tensions between parties in conflict over the use of renewable natural resources.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : modèle de simulation, parcours, approche participative, utilisation des terres, moyens d'existence durables, dégradation des parcours, conduite des herbages, développement durable, participation communautaire, communication, méthodologie, gestion des ressources naturelles, partie intéressée

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Bhoutan, région himalayenne

Mots-clés libres : Companion modeling, Role-playing game, Agent-based simulation, Land use conflict, Pastoralism, Himalayas

Champ stratégique Cirad : CTS 5 (2019-) - Territoires

Auteurs et affiliations

• Raj Gurung Tayan, Ministry of agriculture (Bhoutan) (BTN)
• Le Page Christophe, CIRAD-ES-UMR SENS (FRA) ORCID: 0000-0002-1920-0091 - auteur correspondant
• Trébuil Guy, CIRAD-ES-UMR INNOVATION (FRA) ORCID: 0000-0002-1370-4731

Source : Cirad-Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/603197/)

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