Abstract : French environmental public policies on biodiversity are
designed drawing upon scientific expertise. The framework of
this expertise has been deeply remodeled in the past decade
through a series of reforms and the creation of new institutions.
Th
is exploratory study is based on interviews with stakeholders
working at the interface between scientific knowledge and
political action. The concept of “expertise” describes the difficult
and complicated relationship between science and action, which
is n
ot specific to biodiversity policies but which lead to a feeling
of uneasiness for scientists and policymakers. The reforms
engaged in the last decade are then often justified by this
uneasiness described by interviewees when thinking about
expertise processes. However, our results indicate that the recent
institutional proliferation is perceived as unsettling by both
scientists and policymakers, comforting the existing difficulties.
To go beyond these difficulties and meet the demand for
expertise, experts
adopt what can be described as three archetypal
postures
– ensuring sound science as “guarantors”, defending
conservation principles as “guardians”, or working closely with
policymakers as “agents”. The two latters’ influence has grown
over time at the ex
pense of traditional “guardians”. Results are
analyzed with regard to the strategic stakes of each stakeholder
and to the recent changes in academic and political actions.
