Contribution of the Geographical Information Systems to the measure of multidimensional poverty thought the systemic approach: the illustrative case study of the Biosphere Reserve of Luki (DRC)

For decades, poverty is mainly measured based on variables directly related te income and / or consumption of the agents studied. In parallel, and since the 1980s, researchers are looking at the significance of addressing poverty in a more holistic and complex. Poverty cannot be studied in only one dimension; the many dimensions (environmental, socio-economic, cultural, etc.) cannot be neglected, neither the obvious interactions between these dimensions. Morever, poverty is flot a static phenomenon. The spatio-temporal dynamics that characterize it must be modeled to produce relevant analytical results. In this context, the research question is: how can we overcome the limitations of the multidimensionality of poverty today? The systems approach and geo-spatial analysis tools can certainly help answer this question. Measuring poverty by recognizing the multidimensional nature of poverty implies that environmental risks and socio-economic risks faced by the populations are taken into account and directly incorporated into the analysis. The issue of sustainable development in all its magnitude cannot be approached differently today. Meaning without considering the interactions between the environment and agents that live there. The interest of the systems approach in measuring multidimensional poverty is intuitive, but in the light of literature available on the subject, the contribution and relevance of this approach are not yet proven. Multi-agent systems modeling and simulation are more and more in line with the systems approach. This technique can rcpresent a specific environment and its observed characteristics. It can also be coupled with Geographic Information Systems. The review of the literature on the subject shows that the multi-agent systems have been widely used for analysis of natural resource management in the field of life sciences. Nevertheless, it seems that the concept of multidimensional poverty has been very little, if at all, studied with the multi-agent systems. It is therefore necessary, through modeling and simulations, to identify the elements and variables that strongly influence the vulnerability and the risks people poorer. Today, as the organizational system of many populations living in rich environment (like in our case in a Biosphere Reserve) is moving towards capitalization, the environment is perceived as a source of income. The goal of all activities in this environment becomes more and more income generation. The environment is at risk because of trading and economic interaction. Issues of sustainable management of natural resources and environment are flot a priority in the actions of agents. Often, the perception of tenure rules by agents do not guarantee a reasonable consumption of resources offered by the environment. Especially since agents tend to think that the resources offered by the environment are inexhaustible..