ARICO

This Franco-Quebecois research project focuses on the co-construction of adaptation scenarios to coastal risks between researchers and society stakeholders. We know that, in a context of climate change and of concentration of human and built stakes on the coasts, the risks of coastal erosion and sea flooding are constantly increasing, both on the French and Quebec coasts. In addition, the difficulties of integrated coastal zone management and the multiplicity of positions of different and numerous stakeholders (citizens, elected officials, public administrations, local and regional organizations and other stakeholders) complicate the management of these risks, on a complex territory, at the interface between land and sea, but also between the river and its catchment area. Projecting these vulnerable spaces in a sustainable future becomes a challenge to which interdisciplinary and partnership research between researchers, coastal risk managers and inhabitants will provide crucial insights. The aim of the project is to better understand and promote the adaptive capacities of populations and coastal territories subject to coastal risks by co-constructing, with the stakeholders, scenarios for the adaptation of these coastal territories. Our fundamental hypothesis is that to achieve this, it is necessary to investigate three nested levels of the problem: (1) understand the systemic vulnerability of these maritime territories, through knowledge of both natural and societal dynamics, (2) analyze public policies, stakeholder dynamics and the use of management tools in the two territories (France and Quebec), (3) characterize and analyze the adaptation and resilience capacities of coastal communities in the two test areas (group of municipalities of the Pays Bigouden, Brittany, France and group of municipalities of La Mitis, Québec). These three angles of approach complement each other and allow an integrated approach to analysis, in an interdisciplinary perspective. Throughout the project, progress on these three research questions will feed into the (4) co-construction with stakeholders (managers and inhabitants) of socio-ecological-economic scenarios for the adaptation of coastal territories and communities.The expected results are multiple. In addition to the development of these adaptation scenarios, at different time horizons, on the the test areas, several tools will be realized (vulnerability indicators, digital data platforms, timelines and story maps, serious games…) so that they can be transferred to other sites. One of the original features of the project is to be based on a triple exchange, (i) between two territories, France and Quebec, (ii) between two disciplinary sectors, natural sciences and human and social sciences, (iii) and between several fields of knowledge, that of researchers and those of stakeholders (management professionals and inhabitants). We will work in mixed Franco-Quebec and researcher-managers teams. The systemic approach and the enrichment provided by cross-border international experiences will make it possible to respond to the strong societal demand for sustainable management of these spaces that have very special natural and social dynamics.