Le recul de l'espace agro-pastoral dans les Préalpes du Sud et ses conséquences sur le paysage de la moyenne montagne

Abstract

In the Southern Alps, a rural deeply depopulated region with very feeble densities (five inhabitants per km²) fallows Inherited from the previously cultivated areas cover considerable surfaces (almost 60% of the whole). The very rare agricultural sheep-farmers who still subsist in these areas have ground too old to see to the upkeep of their holdings: so, the "saltus" which is still nowadays spreading on takes quite various forms analyzed in this article in a typology showing the evolution of the saltus landscape according of their varied origins. The new Inhabitants and the new functions of this space underline the problem of the new forms of agricultural management and of its external agents (State, Region and tourism structure).