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

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.