Christiane Gagnon

An assessment of social impacts of national parks on communities in Quebec, Canada

Numerous national parks have been established worldwide to protect nature, but this has not been without social consequences for neighbouring communities. Since the social and economic vitality of adjacent communities is being recognized more and more as indispensable for the success of conservation objectives, the quality of park-community relations has become a critical issue. A four-year investigation into the social impacts engendered by two national parks situated in the Saguenay region of Quebec (Canada) was conducted, according to a social impact assessment method. Several impacts and changes were identified on resource management, on the local economy, on the tourist industry, on involvement and participation of local actors and on the social organization of the neighbouring communities. The significance of these impacts varied according to the community and the actors involved. The results of the present research point to the determining role of the government in general, and of the park management in particular, in the process of local community development. In this regard, recommendations are addressed to local communities to improve their partnership with national parks.

Can SIA empower communities

Public participation in social impact assessment (SIA) has been identified as a source of improved decision-making about resource development in several countries, with an implicit assumption that this sort of participation provides an avenue for empowerment of affected communities in these decision-making processes. This paper provides a critical discussion of the effectiveness of SIA as a means of local empowerment through case studies of resource projects in Australia, Canada, and Southeast Asia.

Methodology of Social Impact Follow-Up Modeling

Based on the presentation of an aluminiumsmelter and its regional setting, the paper present the characteristics of a social impact follow-up model, and shows the relevance of interfaces to integrate numerous data and issues. It also demonstrates the relevance to distinguish, but also to oppose social changes linked to the community’s development and the social impacts linked to the project, just as it shows the need to take into account social impacts and improves social impact assessment in environmental impact assessment.