Renewing sustainable development research design in the America

Résumé En

The authors propose an original research method for sustainable development research that complementary to existing ones. Knowledge sharing and integrating divers members of participating social groups in the research is a feature of this method. Based on a scientific question that is shared by all participants, the research is both multiscale and multidisciplinary involving a synthesis of scientific and local knowledge, field visits, participatory workshops not only to build scenarios but also to draft preliminary results. Within these workshops participants in the research can challenge their own knowledge and the opinions of their partners, distinguish and explain differences and come to a consensus on which actions are likely to lead to sustainable development. Although still in evolution, early outcomes of the methodology appear significant in terms of new knowledge construction, knowledge sharing between participants within a group and between groups The research team includes approximately thirty members from different regions of the American contenient, divers disciplines(sociology, anthropology, geography, economics, and agronomy) as well as stakeholders including primary producers, politicians, regional development organisations and politicians. Most have at least ten years experience in their respecitve field of endeavours and the majority are members of a network entitled Strategic Monitoring of South American Regional Transformations (SMART) in which the Scenarios project was elaborated. Financing for the project comes from the Inter American Institue for Global Change(IAI) through funds provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Scenarios project question is What perception do local actors have of global change and how do they integrate this perception in the future construction of scenarios for land use? Through comparative analysis of five contrasting regions in the American contenient (Salto region in the Northwest Uruguayian Pampa, Uruara in the tropical rain forest in the Brazilian Transamazon, Huarez the Peruvian White Mountain Range and two Canadian case studies; One in the North Altantic and the other in the North American Prairie - Change Islands, Newfoundland and labrador and Special Areas in Alberta, respectively) researchers built their methods and compared results. Various research methods were involved : 1. to identify the key research question to build the methodology and not only link the divers elements of the project, especially regarding the results of the five case studies but also determining the minimum operation, technical and scientific knowledge required. 2. For each case study one or several synthetic reports were developped by subject specialists, generally team members. These reports were presented in the plenary sessions to provide all team members with the information necessary to understand issues arising from the field visits. 3. Presentations for participants representing a diversity of disciplines as well as different scales 4. Given the time constraints of participants site vistes lasted about a week and combined short synthesized presentations on the historical context and current realities, field visits to producers, small inter-group workshops, and presentations of results at the end of the visit period leaving ample time for discussion and further exchange of information. 5. Drafting research reports in group, presenting and publishing results.