Le Programme de recherche risque-décision-territoire du ministère de l'Ecologie et du Développement durable

The floods that occurred in Brittany (winter 2000-2001), on the Somme (spring 2001), Gard (September 2002), Loire and Rhône (December 2003), the Toulouse disaster (21 September 2001) and the forest fires of summer 2003 showed up the importance of specific regional features when considering risks and also the need to develop local networks of researchers to back up public decisions, for example those envisaged in joint State-Region plans and in regional master plans. It is in this co ntext that the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development (MEDD) is managing the Risk Decision Territory (RDT) research programme. RDT supports research projects concerning natural or industrial risks, combining teams of scientists with order initiators in the region concerned in order to provide appropriate answers for local contexts. The programme will draw on and summarise knowledge acquired in the various regions concerned at both national and European levels. This programme, which was launched in 2003, will run for 5 years and is co-ordinated by the IRSN (Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute) and by Sogreah (engineering and consultancy in development and the environment).