Logo du jeu Tourbanisation.
© Creartstudio - François Boggio
How can we reconcile spatial planning with the conservation of natural habitats? This is the challenge set by Tourbanisation, a video game developed as part of the JUNON programme to raise public awareness of how peat bogs work and the services they provide to our environment.
A new, playful approach
While the JUNON programme develops digital twins to gain a better understanding of how natural environments function, it is also committed to making this knowledge accessible to as many people as possible. With Tourbanisation, science outreach uses a unique media, that of a management game available free of charge online via a web browser.
The project came about following a science workshop held with secondary school pupils during the 2025–2026 academic year. Discussions with the pupils highlighted the value of video games as a tool for raising awareness.
In collaboration with a number of professional video game developers who are part of the Loire Games collective, the idea ultimately led to this new video game.
Video Game Tutorial.
© Creartstudio
Understanding peat bogs through experimentation
Peat bogs account for only a small proportion of the world’s land area, but they fulfil essential ecological functions. They store large amounts of carbon, help regulate the water cycle and are home to a wealth of biodiversity. Their conservation is therefore a major lever for mitigating climate change.
In the game, the player takes control of a region whose development depends directly on the health of its peat bogs. Every spatial planning decision affects the balance of this ecosystem since water levels, carbon storage, biodiversity, climate and human activities are all closely interlinked.
Using simplified modelling inspired by the scientific research carried out as part of the JUNON project, Tourbanisation enables users to explore the consequences of different management choices, gain a better understanding of the mechanisms governing these natural environments, and appreciate the complexity of ecological balances.
Raising awareness in a different way
Aimed at the general public but primarily at teachers, Tourbanisation is an educational resource designed to help pupils explore issues relating to wetlands, climate change and sustainable spatial planning.
By offering an interactive experience, the game complements the outreach activities developed as part of the JUNON programme. It offers an amusing way of exploring complex issues and helps everyone gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in preserving peat bogs – ecosystems that are vital for carbon storage, water regulation and biodiversity.
