Pratiques d'élevage et paysages du Causse Méjan

South of the Massif Central, the Causse Mejan is a high isolated plateau, part of which is inside the Cévennes National Park. Its very small population survives mainly on sheep-raising (in 1975 there were 450 inhabitants for 330 square kilometres). Some twelve years ago the state made a considerable effort to provide amenities and do plant trees. Together with ecological surveys socio-economic research was carried out, from 1974 to 1976, into the kinds of farming and of human occupation of the plateau (Brun et al. 1978). There we are particularly concerned with the nature and the distribution of the farms. The analysis of the technical systems made up of men, flocks and land, helps to bring out the role of ecological factors. The present impact of the socio-economic environment and the after-effects of the development of plant-life are considered. Questions are asked in various biological and technical fields.