Notice of release
Québec, July 19, 2023. – The Institut de la statistique du Québec released today the results of the Southern Québec Land Accounts, which report on phenomena such as land artificialization, changes to agricultural land and natural environments, and the flooding and drying out of certain areas.
The first results for the 2010 decade are now available for the six following administrative regions: Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, and Chaudière-Appalaches.
Highlights for these six regions: the 2010 decade
- Annual artificialization has increased from 12 km2 to 16 km2 per year between the 2000s and the 2010s. Annual artificialization has accelerated in five regions but has remained stable in Gaspésie.
- In total, 168 km2 of artificial surfaces (residential areas, industrial and commercial areas, parking lots, etc.) were created in these administrative regions, mainly at the expense of natural environments.
- Agricultural land losses totalled 440 km2, mainly because of uncultivated farmland turning into forests.
- This phenomenon of farmland turning into forests combined with the artificialization of natural environments has led to the forested area remaining relatively stable.
The land accounts are presented in the form of maps and tables that show changes for a given geography during the period studied. For the province’s other regions, data are also available for the 1990s and 2000s.
The Southern Québec Land Accounts report on Québec’s land cover south of the 52nd parallel according to different categories: artificial surfaces, agricultural land, wetlands, forests, and inland water bodies and streams. These accounts make it possible to quantify changes in these areas in km2 between the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
Several years are necessary to collect and compile the data used to create the land accounts, i.e., the ecoforestry inventories of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts.
Land cover changes are measured in the most accurate manner possible based on international environmental accounting standards using existing data for Québec.
Land accounts for the other regions will be made available as the fifth ecoforestry inventory is released.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.