Développement et gestion durable en milieu alpin : le cas d'une ressource naturelle sensible l'eau karstique (étude comparée de six pays alpins)
Institution:
Université Joseph Fourier (Grenoble)Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
Sustainability, a theoretical and abstract concept, utilised in numerous programmes of development and management of natural resources is the theme of this research which lies at the interface between man and the environment. Following the presentation of the concept and related definitions and approaches, the way in which water is managed sustainably in prealpine karstic massifs in six alpine countries serves as an indicator to evaluate the reality of applying the concept to an area which is particularly exposed to pollution due to the absence of water filtration caused by the nature of the geological substratum. This applied research, carried out at ten sites in limestone massifs in the german, austrian, french, italien, slovenien and swiss alps allows the study of different pressures notably of a tourist and pastoral character exerted on the karstic basins. The potential fragility of the sites is illustrated by tracing tests and hydrogeological studies. Analyses of the water show the real impacts of human activity in this environment. In order to guarantee a global approach, an integral part of the definition of sustainability, the methodological approach is completed by the study of the ecological, economic and sociocultural aspects which explain the different policies of water management in the different countries. The degree of sustainability of the management, as the smallest common denominator, is evaluated in relation to the degree of efficiency of the solutions adopted to the different types of pressure. These solutions, which take the form of protection measures, of increasing public awareness or of developing and applying new technologies, are adapted to various degrees to the sites which are studied. Several scenarios are presented and the question of transferring solutions to other sites is posed. In the end the quality of karstic waters depends on the extent of which this resource is protected and to which the site is fragile (depending on the degree of permeability of the karst) ; it also depends on the ability of those responsible for managing the areas (politicians, administrators) and the water resources (technicians, professional users) to reduce impacts at an earlier stage (new purifying technologies, reductions in waste water and products). In this research protected areas and legal systems in the different alpine countries play a key r
Abstract FR:
La durabilite - concept theorique et abstrait, utilise dans de nombreux programmes de developpement et de gestion des ressources naturelles est le theme de cette recherche se situant a l'interface homme/nature. Apres une presentation du concept, ses definitions et grandes approches, la gestion durable de la ressource + eau ; dans les massifs prealpins fortement karstifies de six pays alpins sert d'indicateur pour evaluer la realite de l'application du concept sur un terrain marque par l'absence de filtration des eaux due au substrat geologique. A travers une recherche appliquee menee dans une dizaine de massifs calcaires des alpes allemandes, autrichiennes, francaises, italiennes, slovenes et suisses, les differentes pressions, notamment touristiques et pastorales, exercees sur les impluviums karstiques sont etudiees. La fragilite potentielle des sites est illustree par des essais de tracages et d'etudes hydrogeologiques. Les analyses d'eau montrent les impacts reels de l'activite humaine dans ce milieu. Afin de garantir une approche globale, partie integrante de la definition de durabilite, des aspects ecologiques, economiques et socio-culturels expliquant les differentes politiques de gestion des eaux dans les regions et pays etudies completent l'approche methodologique. La durabilite de la gestion, comme plus petit denominateur commun, est evaluee par rapport au degre d'efficacite des reponses donnees aux differents types de pression. Ces reponses qui peuvent se traduire en mesures de protection, de sensibilisation du grand public, ou d'elaboration et application de technologies modernes, sont plus ou moins adaptees aux sites etudies. Plusieurs scenarios se presentent et la question de la possibilite du transfert des reponses a d'autres sites est posee. La qualite des eaux karstiques depend finalement du degre de protection de la ressource lie a un terrain plus ou moins vulnerable (karst transmissif, karst capacitif), et surtout de la capacite des gestionnaires d'espaces (politiques, administrateurs) et de l'eau (techniciens, usagers professionnels) de reduire les impacts en amont (nouvelles technologies d'assainissement, reduction des eaux usees et des dechets. . . ). Les espaces proteges et les dispositifs juridiques des differents pays alpins jouent un role preponderant dans cette recherche par leur mission dans la protection de la ressource + eau ;, mais