Sujet de thèse (financé) – Gestion des pâturages pastoraux, échanges de gaz à effet de serre et potentiel de séquestration du carbone dans les écosystèmes arides de Djibouti : une approche intégrée pour des transitions durables

offres-thèse

22 septembre 2026

Ce sujet de thèse est financé par le programme COFUND BEST – Between Earth and Sky in Toulouse

Objectives

  • Measure and model greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) at high spatial resolution to refine national inventories (transitioning from a Tier 1 method—default IPCC emission factors—to Tier 2/3 methods with local data).
  • Assess the carbon sequestration potential in soils and vegetation by comparing shrub-dominated areas with open grasslands.
  • Propose nature-based solutions to enhance the climate resilience of pastoral communities, aligning with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).

The project follows an integrated approach (WEFE Nexus) and adopts an interdisciplinary perspective (climate, ecology, animal science, social science) and a participatory framework (involving pastoralists, policymakers, and consultants) to analyze interdependencies between:

  • Water: Management of watering points and watershed dynamics.
  • Energy: Reducing dependence on woody biomass (a major driver of deforestation) through sustainable alternatives (e.g., biogas).
  • Food: Food security linked to rangeland and livestock productivity.
  • Ecosystems: Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g., soil fertility, pollination).

Methodological Innovations

  • Field data: GHG flux measurements, pastoralist surveys, transects to assess vegetation cover (LAI, diversity), soil characteristics (pH, texture, organic matter), and herd structure.
  • Modeling: Simulation of carbon/water/nutrient dynamics (dynamic vegetation models and AI tools) to predict the impact of pastoral practices.
  • Regional upscaling: Collaboration with Haramaya University (Ethiopia) for comparative analysis in the Horn of Africa’s drylands.
  • Participatory science: Involvement of pastoralists in data collection and co-design of solutions.
  • Policy analysis: Evaluation of incentives for carbon sequestration.

Societal and Policy Impacts

  • Capacity building: Training pastoral communities in sustainable management and carbon sequestration mechanisms.
  • Support for Djiboutian institutions (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture) in developing climate policies.

The project will rely on both academic partnerships (ILRI, Haramaya University) and non-academic partnerships (pastoral communities, Djibouti’s Ministry of Agriculture, PASTOC consultancy).

Rechercher