Irstea: a targeted research institute aimed at decision and action

Irstea http://www.irstea.fr/en/home-page is a French public scientific and technical institute in joint supervision with the Ministry of Research and the Ministry of Agriculture and is holder of an agreement with the Ministry of Ecology, the co-signatory of its constitutive decree.

Irstea’s main missions

Initiating, implementing, coordinating and supporting, on the medium and long-term, on its own initiative or at the request of the government, all scientific and technological research in the areas of developing sustainable land management, especially agricultural and natural land, and their resources.

Grenoble Center - “Territories” Department

The research and analysis of the Mountain Territories Development Research Unit mainly involves social sciences. Work is aimed at characterising and facilitating the integration of environmental considerations into rural and mountain development plans as part of overall sustainable development.

Our reasearch concentrates on rural and mountain territories, from rural areas on the fringes of cities to protected areas. These regions are subject to significant pressure, especially from urban factors, and their environment represents a development asset – since it offers amenities that can be harnessed – and a major vulnerability, since it must be preserved. We look especially closely at agriculture in mountain areas with a view to encouraging sustainable agriculture by balancing farming needs with those of the environment. We also examine tourist activities in terms of how they are organised and their consequences for given regions. Our sociological research seeks to increase understanding of contemporary evolutions in ‘nature policies’ and environmental science policies and how these overlap. Research examines territories as study subjects and analyses the operators, practices and public policies that influence, or derive from, their development. The research is carried out in the aim of supporting decision-making and development policies.