Sylvain Paquette

Changing ruralities, changing landscapes: exploring social recomposition using a multi-scale approach

Abstract Changes in agricultural practices have led to declines in the farming population and significant changes within the landscape. Paradoxically, many rural areas are recording significant demographic growth. Given the extent of rural areas experiencing these changes, little attention has been devoted to the relationship between rural migration processes and landscape developments. Therefore, the various rural dynamics resulting from these phenomena merit closer investigation. Moreover, we should explore these complex processes at scales where they are most evident. Through the multi-scale research approach used in this study, these processes are investigated in their regional, local, and domestic contexts. As shown by regional typological outlines, the great diversity of the rural areas indicates an increasing dissociation between the agricultural and socio-demographic trajectories. From our local-scale study, changes in lot occupation revealed new residential settlement patterns induced by an influx of in-migrants. Specific landscape characteristics seem to be a determining force shaping these population flows. At the same time, these population movements have dissimilar influences on evolving landscape dynamics. With the exception of isolated agricultural abandonment trajectories, migrant relocation does not seem to affect specific local-scale land use development. However, it is significantly associated with individual domestic practices. These practices are indicative of the migrants identity in the rural landscape; further, they suggest specific values for the landscapes qualitative dimensions. These emerging urban and non-farming interests in rural landscapes challenge planning policies to guide the landscapes evolution for the benefit of its “producers” and “consumers”.

Trends in rural landscape development and sociodemographic recomposition in southern Quebec (Canada)

Abstract Farming production currently leaves vast stretches of land to other functions. At the same time, rural areas are becoming residential places for a growing number of urban migrants. The landscape developments that result from these changes must be more closely examined. To what extent does the influx of a new rural population change or maintain local landscape dynamics? To what degree do landscape contexts appear to influence the settlement choices of new rural residents? Is it possible to identify recurring sociodemographic profiles with regard to these residents? From a detailed analysis of settlement evolution in a territory located in southern Quebec, this study attempts to reveal the relationships existing between social recomposition and landscape developments. Based on three distinct but complementary readings (in situ visual analysis, land use change analysis (1968–1997) and sociodemographic information surveys), and on the possibilities generated by multivariate analysis, it aims to identify: (1) residential settlement patterns according to landscape contexts and (2) local landscape transformations. On the one hand, results suggest that specific sociodemographic recomposition movements do not spread uniformly throughout the study area. They lead to believe that some landscape contexts (upper hillside, panoramic views and woodlots) constitute determining factors of attractiveness. On the other hand, the diversity of local landscape dynamics (significant or moderate persistence of agricultural activities; advanced agricultural abandon; transitional agricultural lots; and residential development lots) suggests that complex phenomena link social recomposition processes with large-scale agricultural land use transformations. While establishing a framework of analysis appropriate for exploring the diversity and the complexity of current landscape changes, this paper emphasizes the necessity of considering local landscape developments along with social dynamics. This approach helps to better document the evolution of rural communities, as well as to provide insight into the shaping of future rural landscapes.

Agricultural Trajectories (1961–991), Resulting Agricultural Profiles and Current Sociodemographic Profiles of Rural Communities in Southern Quebec (Canada): A Typological Outline

Abstract The transformation of the rural areas in Quebec is a result of the decrease in the agricultural population, the spread of the periurban fringes, and the appropriation of areas by seasonal residents. To what extent have these phenomena evolved according to different spaces, from one municipality to the other? Have they made the territory more homogeneous, or have they rather contributed to produce new spatial patterns? What are the dominant traits of the rural communities’ sociodemographic profiles that are attributed to these trajectories? Considerable work remains to be done in order to characterize the evolving trajectories, induced by these phenomena, and the resulting spatial patterns. Based on the agricultural and sociodemographic indicators available in Canadian censuses, and the possibilities offered by the multivaried analyses; the present research aims to identify typological outlines apt to report on: (1) evolving agricultural trajectories (1961–1991); (2) resulting agricultural profiles; and (3) current sociodemographic profiles. Two observations result from these outlines. First, resulting from the two main agricultural trajectories observed (intensification-regression), the five following agricultural profiles were noticed for 1991: vegetable crop intensive farming, cereal crop intensive farming, moderately intensive farming, extensive cattle farming, and marginalised farming. Second, on the sociodemographic level, the identification of seven rural municipality groups (predominantly agricultural, agricultural in transition, marginalised agricultural, periurban, small mutating industrial centre, traditional and high-class rural amenity municipalities) accounts for the diversity of social recomposition shapes. This paper attempts to contribute to the understanding of spatial and demographic dynamics of contemporary rural communities.

The transformation of the agroforestry landscape in the nineteenth century: a case study in southern Quebec (Canada)

Abstract Although recent landscape changes have been extensively studied, we possess very little information about the nature and extent of changes before aerial photographs were available. To contribute to this knowledge, we propose to explore the information within the Canadian censuses of the nineteenth century, documentary sources still very underused in landscape dynamics studies. The importance of these data lies in the fact that information is provided at the scale of each lot between 1842 and 1871, and at the township scale for subsequent years (1881–1951). In this study, nominative data provided for a rural township (139 km2) located in southern Quebec were coupled with detailed information about geomorphologic features using GIS. The analyses indicated two main phenomena. First, characterization of global landscape dynamics revealed the extent and rapidity of change. The evolution of land-use shows an increase of about 40% in improved areas between 1842 and 1871. while cumulative data show improved areas occupying nearly 83% of the total areas in 1891. These results contrast with recent landscape dynamics (1958–1993) which display relatively minor changes. Second, at the landscape type scale as well as at the surface deposit scale, analysis of nominative data failed to show any clear relationship between landscape dynamics and the spatial entities considered, whereas recent land-use patterns are closely linked to surface deposits. Thus, constant fluctuation in the agroforestry landscape and the lack of influence of abiotic characteristics on land-use dynamics represent two specific characteristics of this nineteenth century landscape.

Siting green stormwater infrastructure in a neighbourhood to maximise secondary benefits: lessons learned from a pilot project

Abstract When siting green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), cities do not respond only to technical and regulatory requirements; they also strive to maximise environmental, aesthetic and social benefits. To help cities optimise the siting of GSI in the context of climate change, we developed a participatory decision support tool. Applied to a neighbourhood, this tool identified only a few sites where GSI would yield all secondary benefits and reduce climate change vulnerability. In the light of the need for large-scale implementation of GSI in cities, this finding raises the following questions: How can the potential benefits provided by a site be best identified? Are there potential synergies or antagonisms between benefits? How do they relate to vulnerability? Can a participatory decision-making process involving local stakeholders improve this process? Informed by the existing literature on balancing ecosystem services and vulnerability, these questions are addressed within a broader perspective of landscape design and urban planning.