Mountain farming and conservation of endangered species

Biotope has contributed to an analysis of agricultural-environmental measures targeting the queen of the Alps (Eryngium alpinum) in the Vanoise and Ecrins national parks, in collaboration with the Laboratoire d’Écologie Alpin in Grenoble.

We simulated the viability of stands of queen of the Alps subjected to different combinations of agricultural practices (e.g. alternating mowing/pasture) and we calculated the income associated with these combinations to identify optimal solutions for both the survival of the species and livestock.

Our results are of interest for the combination of ecological and economic data that make it possible to propose concrete recommendations for the management of ecosystems on the technical and economic levels.

The results were published in the Journal of Applied Ecology (available on the journal’s website).