Socio-economic approach of the french peatlands

Carine MAITRE

« RECIPE »

IntroductionSocio-economic context linked with peatlands ?

Peatland existence set up a social network

Sociological investigation : what are actors’ social representations?P

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1- Socio-economic valorizations :1.1 Market of peat in France 1.2 Valorization linked with conservative

management

2- Sociological investigation2.1 An exploited peatland : Baupte (Normandy)2.2 A restored peatland : Frasne (Franche-Comté)

Pla

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2.1- Produce market of peat in France (a)

Industrial exploitation

Organic amendments and growing media

Artisanal exploitation

15 sites of extraction

Weak density of peatlands

High density of peatlands

Peatlands

Areas of peatland

Extracted peat (metric tons) (end of 1999)

2.1- The market of peat in France (b)

2.1- The market of peat in France (c)

National consommation of peat (metric tons)

1975 1995

Volume Pourcentage Volume Pourcentage

Volume of importations

80 579 33 466 000 54

National production 161 382 67 400 000 46

Nationalconsommation

241 961 100 866 000 100

Evaluation of french consommation of peat

2.1- The market of peat in France (d)

2 000 000

Volume 2003 ( in m3)

PEAT : Imported,blond and black

PEAT : Frenchextracted Barks : growingsupport

Decorative barks

Wood fibres

Others*

Volume of different raw materials used in fabrication of growing-media

Importations : 80 % Baltic States,10 % Ireland, 10% others countries

2.1-The market of peat in France(e):Employment in 2003

- Approximatively 100 jobs linked with peat exploitation in France

number in diminution

- 1500 jobs generated by production of organic amendments and growing media

number in augmentation

2.1 The market of peat in France (f) : Future of french exploitations ?

Authorizations of extraction expiration : 2010French and european legislations

Last authorization in France :

marsh with minor ecological interest (2001)

Importations of peat : Belarus, Russia or Quebec Developement of alternative products

2.2- Socio-economic valorization of conservative management

Jobs in different organisms (Associations, National Forest Board (ONF), in communes community.)

Installation to welcome publicProducts of conservation management

Animals introduced for extensive grazing

Restoration

Conservative management

Landscaped, educative,

and touristic valorizationsGathering of bilberries

Fishing

Agricultural use

Hunting

Exploitation

At the origine of uses .. actorsProfessionnal and private consummers

Entrepreneurs

Peat workers

Manufacturers of composts

Farmers Associations

ONF

Residents

Private ownersAdministrations

Elected membersTourists

3- Sociological investigations (a)

Interviews with individuals concerning by peatlands :

- Semi-directive interviews- Grid with topics- Record/Retranscription

Analyse of talks : Similarities between speeches

Typology of actors

3.1 Sociological investigation : Peatland of Baupte, Normandy

Exploitedpeatland

Plain-marsh

BAUPTEGORGES

Factory

B1B8

B12

B7

B13

B6

B9.1

B9.2

B10

B1

B4B5

B3

B2

B

Impacts of exploitation

- No negative impacts

- Advantages and drawbacks

- Only negative impacts

Future of exploitation-« It would be a pity if it stops »

- « It would be a catastroph »

- « They are going to stop exploitation »

- « They must stop the exploitation »

Evocation of industrial past- Near absent

- Marked

- Very marked

Definition of a peatland- « That’s where peat is extracted »

- Natural environnement

3.1 Sociological investigation : Results of Baupte

La t

ourb

ière

Legend Themes and subtopics

Definition of a peatland

- « That’s where peat is extracted »

- Natural environnement

Impacts of exploitation

- No negative impacts

- Advantages and drawbacks

- Only negative impacts

Future of exploitation

« It would be a pity if it stops »

« It would be a catastroph »

« They are going to stop exploitation »

« They must stop the exploitation »

Evocation of industrial past

- Near absent

- Marked

Very marked

Actors’ typology (a)

B11B5

B4

A- Institutions and associations

B- The Ecologist Hunters

B9.2

B9.1

B10

Actors’ typology (b)Legend Themes and subtopics

Definition of a peatland

- « That’s where peat is extracted »

- Natural environnement

Impacts of exploitation

- No negative impacts

- Advantages and drawbacks

- Only negative impacts

Future of exploitation

« It would be a pity if it stops »

« It would be a catastroph »

« They are going to stop exploitation »

« They must stop the exploitation »

Evocation of industrial past

- Near absent

- Marked

Very marked

B6B3B3

C- The « interested »

B12

B7 B8

B1

D- « Keep the jobs »

B11

B5

B4

A

B9.2 B9.1B10

B

B6

B3B3

C

D

B12

B7

B8

B1

Social determinants explaining typology? Age ? Socio-economic category ? Family situation ?

Spatial proximity

BAUPTE

GORGES

B11

B5

B4

A

B6

B3B3

C

D

B12

B7

B8

B1

B9.2 B9.1B10

B

3.2- Sociological investigation : Site of Frasne (Franche-Comté)

Frasne

F1

F2

PontarlierPeatlands

F4

F3First results

• F2 : utilitary vision

•All : « beauté du milieu », « nécessaire de protéger », « tourbières sont bien protégées, bien aménagées »

• Consensus

Conclusions / Perspectives

Sociological investigationBaupteFrasne : After a period ...

Continuation of this study :- interviews with new publics- peatland of Herretang (Isère)

Conciliation between environnemental and valorization socio-economic in peatland?

- public/product- peat exploitation

Socio-economic approach of the french peatlands

Carine MAITRE

« RECIPE »