Confronting different theories and frameworks of analysis of socio-ecological systems with empirical knowledge and data

On one hand this assessment enhances the value of such empirical research and on the other hand SETER project activities clarify the respective potential of these different theoretical frameworks. The lessons from SETER project also provides the basis for new conceptualisations of socio-ecological systems dynamics and management.

1) scientific animation of the scientific community involved in socio-ecological systems research which promoted exchanges, networking.
• 12 visiting scholars for two stays in 2009 and 2010
• 10 conferences organised in Montpellier by the visiting scholars and discussion
• 18 meetings with the scientific community in Montpellier within and outside Agroplis fundation Network
• 1 Summer School in Political Ecology
• 1 Seminar on Trade-offs between Ecosystems services
• 1 PhD (USA) on political ecology of locusts, under the direction of one of the visiting scholars

2) cross analysis of each case study in order to identify convergences between theoritical frameworks and to propose new insights on these frameworks
3 Field visits and work ( Camargue/ Tomato production areas near Perpignan)
Analysis of each case study by the visiting scholars according the framework of Political ecology; Common Pool Resource; Resilience; Environmental Services; Robustness; Vulnerability; Social représentation and mental models.

3) Dissemination of the results and proposition of an analytical frame for the articulations of the various schools ( the PISA framewok for power- incentive-system-adaptation)
• 2 Organised sessions in 2 conférences in Montpellier and Washington; 1 Communication in the Resilience Conference in Arizona state University,
• 1 final seminar on the results of the project in Montpellier for discussion on the results
• 1 invited seminar in Stcocholm Resilience Center
• 2 Web sites : http://seter.org
• http://www.politicalecology.fr/animation_scientifique/ecole_chercheur_en_political_ecology_montpellier_juin_2009.
On going production of reports, joint synthesis papers on the 4 case-studies and all the schhol of thoughts, specific papers based on one case studies.

Application for future projects
• Belmont Project (Multi-scale climate change adaptations and social-ecological sustainability in coastal areas), based on the Camargue case study and Resilience and Robustness approaches.)
• Open Science Agropolis
• Network