Environmental Equity and Spatial Distribution of Vegetation in and Around Residential Islets in Montreal: A Double Inequity?

Philippe Apparicio, Thi-Thanh-Hien Pham, Anne-Marie Seguin, Shawn M. Landry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

North American cities: neighborhoods predominantly inhabited by low income population or by some ethnic groups have lower vegetation cover. The goal of this paper is to examine the existence of environmental inequities related to access to urban vegetation in the city of Montreal with regards to low-income people and visible minorities. Six indicators of vegetation in and around residential blocks (at 250 and 500 m) are computed by using Quickbird satellite images. These indicators are then related to socio-economic data by different statistical analysis (correlation, Student's t -test, analysis of variance and regression). Our results indicate that low-income people, and in lesser degree, are visible in areas where vegetation is less present. Finally the use of indicators computes in and around blocks allows us to reveal the presence of a double inequity in certain neighbourdhoods.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalCahiers de géographie du Québec
Volume57
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2013

Keywords

  • Urban vegetation
  • environmental equity
  • environmental justice
  • spatial analysis
  • remote sensing
  • Montreal

Disciplines

  • Earth Sciences

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