The Valab project (Integrated Ecosystemic value-enhancement of the Guadeloupean Forest Agrobiodiversity) is a participatory action research that aims to explore the feasibility of diversification activities within the forest understorey. In the exploratory phase of the project, we studied stakeholders’ opinions on the positive and negative impacts of introducing livestock activities within a forest environment, as well as breeders’ constraints or motivations for setting up livestock units within agroforestry systems in the private forests of Guadeloupe. To establish a diagnosis of the current situation, 51 stakeholders (St) and 49 farmers (Fr) were interviewed on their perceptions, opinions, motivations and preferences. Forty-one percent of the St has had a generally positive appreciation of livestock activities, while on the opposite 31% have had a resolutely negative posture depending on their area of expertise. Their views on the possible positive effects or negative interactions between livestock and agroforestry activities were analysed in order to suggest possible approaches for the authorities or associations. Unanimously, the farmers replied that their motivations followed economic strategies: for self-consumption or sale. But their decision-making processes were also non-economic. Many of them (36% Fr) gave importance to their activity in the construction of their identity, whether it was through a desire to perpetuate traditions or to maintain family activities. The main constraints identified were natural constraints (61% Fr), including topography, climate and predators. While 28% of Fr notified their motivations for environmental protection. Another constraint was of a technical nature (44% Fr) since farmers asked for more technical references or support services. Further researches are required to study the interactions between animals and the undergrowth by describing their respective ecosystem services in order to enhance their positive interactions.
References
[1]
Alexandre, G., Fanchone, A., Ozier-Lafontaine, H. and Diman, J.L. (2014) Livestock Farming Systems and Agroecology in the Tropics. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, 14, 83-116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06016-3_4
[2]
Dumont, B., Fortun-Lamothe, L., Jouven, M., Thomas, M. and Tichit, M. (2013) Prospects from Agroecology and Industrial Ecology for Animal Production in the 21st Century. Animal, 7, 1028-1043. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731112002418
[3]
Fanchone, A., Alexandre, G., Chia, E., Diman, J.L., Ozier-Lafontaine, H. and Angeon, V. (2020) A Typology to Understand the Diversity of Strategies of Implementation of Agroecological Practices in the French West Indies. European Journal of Agronomy, 117, Article ID: 126058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2020.126058
[4]
Joseph, P. (2009) Ecosystèmes forestiers de la Caraïbe. Karthala, Martinique.
[5]
IGN, Conseil général de la Guadeloupe (2014) Diagnostic des forêts de la Guadeloupe. Rapport d’étude, Guadeloupe.
[6]
Barlagne, C., Bézard, M., Drillet, E., Larade, A., Diman, J.L., Alexandre, G., Vinglassalon, A. and Nijnik, M. (2021) Stakeholders Engagement Platform to Identify Sustainable Pathways for the Development of Multi-Functional Agroforestry in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. Agroforestry Systems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00663-1
[7]
Garrity, D.P. (2004) Agroforestry and the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Agroforestry Systems, 61, 5-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2424-1_1
Bussoni, A., Alvarez, J., Cubbage, F., Ferreira, G. and Picasso, V. (2019) Diverse Strategies for Integration of Forestry and Livestock Production. Agroforestry Systems, 93, 333-344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-017-0092-7
[10]
Greenberg, R., Perfecto, I. and Philpott, S.M. (2008) Agroforests as Model Systems for Tropical Ecology. Ecology, 89, 913-914. https://doi.org/10.1890/07-1578.1
[11]
Castro-Nunes, T., Chaigneau, R., Vinglassalon, A., Barlagne, C., Hammouya, D., Diman, J.L. and Bezard, M. (2019) Diversity of the Socio-Economic Strategies of Valorization of the Undergrowth of Guadeloupe: A Typology. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry, Montpellier, 20-22 May 2019, 453.
[12]
World Congress on Agroforestry (2019) Session L12-Economics of Agroforestry: The Link between Nature and Society. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry, Montpellier, 20-22 May 2019, 426-465.
[13]
Butel, P. (2007) Histoire des Antilles françaises. Editions Tempus Perrin, Paris.
[14]
Degras, L. (2016) Le jardin créole: Repères culturels, scientifiques et techniques. éd Jasor, Guadeloupe.
[15]
Zébus, M.F., Alexandre, G., Diman, J.L., Despois, E. and Xandé, A. (2004) Activités informelles, normalisation et développement. L’élevage porcin en Guadeloupe. Cahiers de l’Agriculture, 13, 263-270.
[16]
Chia, E. and Dulcire, M. (2019) La coexistence de formes de production agricole au prisme des politiques publiques: Le cas de la Guadeloupe. études caribéennes. https://doi.org/10.4000/etudescaribeennes.16652
[17]
Piantoni, F. (2008) Marquages territoriaux et categories socials dans l’espace ultramarin français. L’Espace Politique, 6. https://doi.org/10.4000/espacepolitique.1090 https://journals.openedition.org/espacepolitique/1090
[18]
Kling-Eveillard, F. and Frappat, B. (2012) Les enquêtes qualitatives en agriculture: De la conception à l’analyse des résultats. IDELE, Paris.
[19]
Neef, A. and Neubert, D. (2011) Stakeholder Participation in Agricultural Research Projects: A Conceptual Framework for Reflection and Decision-Making. Agriculture Human Values, 28, 179-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-010-9272-z
[20]
Gasselin, P., Vaillant, M. and Bathfield, B. (2012) The Activity System. A Position Paper. 10th European IFSA Symposium, Aarhus, 1-4 July 2012, 1-12.
[21]
Neufeldt, H. (2015) Research Needs for the Advancement of Integrated Crop-Live-stock-Tree Uses. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi.
[22]
Archimede, H., Alexandre, G., Mahieu, M., Fleury, J., Petro, D., Garcia, G.W., Fanchone, A., Bambou, J.C., Marie-Magdeleine, C., Gourdine, J.L., Gonzalez, E. and Mandonnet, N. (2014) Agro-Ecological Resources for Sustainable Livestock Farming in the Humid Tropics. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, 14, 299-330. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06016-3_9
[23]
Jose, S. and Dollinger, J. (2019) Silvopasture: A Sustainable Livestock Production System. Agroforestry Systems, 93, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00366-8
[24]
Jose, S. (2009) Agroforestry for Ecosystem Services and Environmental Benefits: An Overview. Agroforestry Systems, 76, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-009-9229-7
[25]
Bommel, P., Bonaudo, T., Barbosa, T., da Veiga, J.B., Vieira Pak, M. and Tourrand, J.F. (2010) La relation complexe entre l’élevage et la forêt en Amazonie brésilienne: Une approche par la modélisation multi-agents. Cahiers Agricultures, 19, Article No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1684/agr.2010.0384
[26]
Jose, S., Walter, D. and Kumar, B.M. (2019) Ecological Considerations in Sustainable Silvopasture Design and Management. Agroforestry Systems, 93, 317-331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-0065-2
[27]
Alexandre, G., Cheval, A., Perrette, J., Apatout, M., Diman, J.L., Larade, A. and Vinglassalon, A. (2021) Livestock Activities in Agroforestry Systems in Guadeloupe: Systems of Production and Functions. Agroforestry Systems, 95, 1445-1458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00651-5
[28]
Fanchone, A., Alexandre, G. and Hostiou, N. (2022) Work Organization as a Barrier to Crop-Livestock Integration Practices: A Case Study in Guadeloupe. Agronomy and Sustainable Development, 42, 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00782-8
[29]
Maybery, D., Crase, L. and Gullifer, C. (2005) Categorising Farming Values as Economic, Conservation and Lifestyle. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 26, 59-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2003.10.001
[30]
Mzoughi, N. (2011) Farmers Adoption of Integrated Crop Protection and Organic Farming: Do Moral and Social Concerns Matter? Ecology Economics, 70, 1536-1545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.03.016
[31]
Bénabou, R. and Tirole, J. (2006) Incentives and Prosocial Behavior. American Economic Review, 96, 1652-1678. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.5.1652
[32]
Lewicka, M. (2011) Place Attachment: How Far Have We Come in the Last 40 Years? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31, 207-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.10.001
[33]
Hubert, B. and Guérin, G. (1987) Politique forestière et évolution de l’élevage: Aspects historiques, bilan et évolution. Fourrages hors série, 11-36.
[34]
SEZ (2016) L’animal domestique dans la forêt. Ethnozootechnie, 100, 5-160.
