Interdisciplinarity in practice: a research project in Madagascar

This article, inspired by a field work, starts by trying to clarify some concepts (mono, multi, pluri, inter and trans-disciplinarity), before drawing some practical lessons. As an example, it presents the dynamics of deforestation in Madagascar, and more specifically, the case of Manongarivo Special Reserve (North-West of the island), the scene of a research project ("Political Ecology and Biodiversity") between 1994 and 2003. As an object, the concept of deforestation is built socially and scientifically. It requires, for any team that adresses it, "interdisciplinary" thought, a deconstruction and a reconstruction process. A particularly difficult task when faced with concrete research practices.