OECD pressure–state–response indicators for managing biodiversity: a realistic perspective for a French biosphere reserve

Harold Levrel (1, 2) , Christian Kerbiriou (2) , Denis Couvet (2) , Jacques Weber (3, 4)

1 AMURE - Aménagement des Usages des Ressources et des Espaces marins et littoraux - Centre de droit et d'économie de la mer
2 CERSP - Conservation des espèces, Restauration et Suivi des Populations
3 UPR Ressources forestières - Ressources forestières et politiques publiques
4 Cirad-ES - Département Environnements et Sociétés

Sustainability is said to be the science of integration, be it integration of scale, discipline or of stakeholders’ interests. One way to integrate such diverse elements is to develop sustainable development indicators. Numerous national and international organizations have attempted to develop such indicators, among which interaction indicators are of critical importance because they enable us to link up human activities, ecological dynamics, and social goals. Among the various ways to develop such indicators, the most common ones are the pressure–state–response (PSR) indicators, as well as others coming from this framework. With realistic methodology one shall observe how PSR indicators might appear as an operational tool to face rapid social and ecological changes within a French biosphere reserve in Brittany. Results suggest that such a framework is insufficient to describe, understand and manage social and ecological interactions.

Mots clés: Interaction indicators; PSR indicators; Adaptive management; Biodiversity

Domaines: Sciences de l'environnement

Harold Levrel, Christian Kerbiriou, Denis Couvet, Jacques Weber. OECD pressure–state–response indicators for managing biodiversity: a realistic perspective for a French biosphere reserve. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2009, 18 (7), pp.1719 - 1732. ⟨10.1007/s10531-008-9507-0⟩. ⟨hal-01692359⟩