The concept of Anthropocene is commonly used to characterize the era in which human activities become the main driver of the Earth system evolution. In the field of fluvial geomorphology, the impacts of anthropogenic activities on river systems are indeed well recognized, as are the close relationships that humans have with rivers in human and cultural geography. In this period marked by climate change and the socio- environmental crises that accompany it, rivers are under increasing pressure, express growing fragility and can represent risks for the communities that live near them. At the same time, however, they are the object of considerable attachment from the people of these communities, and they show an increased utility, for example regarding drinking water resources.

Consequently, the approach of sociogeomorphology invites us to go beyond the current definition of the Anthropocene, adding that it involves a range of complex interactions between biophysical and social processes. It recognizes their coproduction of landscapes, which is crystallized in a trajectory that is neither truly natural nor wholly anthropogenic, as well as the hybrid nature of the landscapes and forms that these processes construct and maintain. Fundamentally, sociogeomorphology first allows us to better understand the complexity of these interactions and their coevolution in the trajectory of rivers. In a more applied way, it can then be used to enlighten and orientate the future of rivers, notably in terms of management. In a critical perspective, it finally questions the place of scientific knowledge in the bending of rivers trajectory and calls for a more necessary than ever conciliation of social and physical geographies for the study of their historical evolution, their current behaviors, uses and issues, as well as their future.

In this context, we suggest bringing together specialists for a 120-minute thematic session around the theme of the sociogeomorphology of rivers in Canada. The presentations will focus on the epistemological, theoretical, and conceptual foundations of the sociogeomorphological approach, on methodological frameworks allowing a sociogeomorphological analysis of rivers, on critical perspectives, as well as on specific case studies.

Animateur | Chair : Thomas Buffin-Bélanger

1. Ashmore, P. Introduction to sociogeomorphology of rivers in the Anthropocene
2. Vin-Deslauriers, J., Boivin, M., Buffin-Bélanger, T., Tremblay, S. & Riffon, O. Rivière à Mars : une trajectoire à échelle humaine illustrant l'évolution des perceptions
3. Bernier, J.-F. Le Saint-Laurent fluvial : un anthroposystème en déséquilibre ?
4. Meury, S. Évaluation de la résilience de plages anthropiques par une approche de suivi géomorphologique et historique
5. Létourneau, V. Vers la perte du patrimoine des crues : comment se sont construits des murs entre nos sociétés et nos cours d’eau ?
6. Gariépy-Girouard, É., Buffin-Bélanger, T. & Biron, P. M. Le canal Saint-Georges : trajectoire sociogéomorphologique d’un cours d’eau d’origine anthropique