Geography of rural areas: land use, environment, nature

Teacher(s)

Meyfroidt Patrick;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Prerequisites

Students with a bachelor's degree in geographic sciences should take LGEO1342 and LGEO1341 in the same academic year at the latest.
The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (TU) are specified at the end of this sheet, in relation to the programs/training courses that offer this TU.
For Baccalauréat en sciences géographiques, general orientation (GEOG1BA): LGEO1342

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Main themes

The course uses a human geography perspective to focus on rural spaces and territories, to understand the interactions between land use (agriculture, forestry, settlement, energy…), rural societies, and environmental and natural dynamics.
The course investigates theoretical models of spatial organisation and visions of rural spaces (von Thünen and others) ; transformations of rural spaces in particular in Europe ; contemporary issues and governance of rural spaces, in particular in Europe.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	To understand the basis of rural geography, as well as the main contemporary issues in rural areas with a focus on Europe. Contemporary issues are explored through concrete cases such as the question of multifunctionality. To use adequately this knowledge base for modelling or as a tool for critical thinking

Content

Rural geography: theoretical models from geography, sociology and economy of rural areas: von Thünen, Ricardo, various visions of rural areas and rurality. Evolution of European rural areas since 1950: demograph, socio-economy, land use. Contemporary issues of western rural areas. Geography of health: in the perspective of multifunctionality of rural and "natural" areas, we will examine positive and negative associations with human health. Geographical concepts such as spatial relations and scale, as well as human-environment interactions and ecosystem services frame these topics. 
The course is given in French.

Teaching methods

Theoretical lectures, discussions, practical exercises.

Evaluation methods

Exam on the theoretical content: 50%
Reports from practical exercises: 50%.
For the second session, only a written exam on the theoretical content will be organized; The marks for the practical exercises will be attached to all the sessions of the academic year.

Other information

Student enrolling must have basic knowledge of statistics and of R. 
For students with a Bachelor's degree in Geographical Sciences, it is advisable to take the courses LGEO1342 and LGEO1341 in the same academic year at the latest.

Online resources

https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=8999

Teaching materials

• matériel sur moodle

Faculty or entity

> GEOG