Below are descriptions of some research projects of IAMC.

If you wish more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Amenity-led Migration in the Similkameen & South Okanagan Valleys,

British Columbia, Canada

For the first time in many decades the 2006 Canadian Census showed the population of Similkameen Valley, located in south-central British Columbia, grew 5.9%, 2.5% higher than its neighbouring South Okanagan Valley – Canada’s well-established, premiere retiree destination. In 2007 the Similkameen Valley Planning Society (SVPS: a Valley-wide, not-for-profit organization, with a board of directors of elected leaders) initiated a project that would study and strategically respond to amenity-led migration. A study was conducted to analyze  values and behaviour  associated particularly with amenity-led change that affects the economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability of Similkameen and South Okanagan Valleys and their 9 main communities (Penticton, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Princeton, Keremeos, rural South Okanagan, rural Upper and Lower Similkameen).

Subsequently, more in-depth analysis was undertaken specifically on the Similkameen Valley. The information from these two studies then formed the basis for developing the Similkameen Sustainability Strategy (2010-2020) in which water security played a predominant role. Romella & Laurence led this research, policy and planning project. Research findings and the strategy are available in a number of publications, including Global Amenity Migration, Chapter 8 & 25. Please contact us for further information.

Part-time Residents in the Town of Canmore, Alberta, Canada

In 2011, "non-permanent" residents of the Town of Canmore formed about 30% of its population which had the potential to bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and other assets into the community. Yet, little was known about their roles in the community, their economic influence and their needs & wants. In addition, the Town did not have an effective means for engaging them — an important factor for community participation and sustainability. Therefore, a study was undertaken to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the town’s part-time residents, including their economic impacts, demand characteristics, property usage, and how they understand and engage in the community. The results of the study was also used to develop a method of information gathering for future research of this nature, to create data and its trends and determine the most effective method for future communication with this part of the town’s population. The research findings informed town policy toward achieving a community in which both part-time and more permanent residents are connected and valued. Research findings available online from the Town of Canmore website:

http://www.canmore.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=3272

See also: McNicol, B. and Glorioso, R.S. (26 Feb. 2014) Second Home Leisure Landscapes and Retirement in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Community of Canmore, Alberta, Annals of Leisure Photograph of Town of Canmore by J. Groundwater             Research.

  Analysis of Land Use & Transportation Planning in the U.S. Rocky Mountain West

Amenity migration has and is dramatically changing many mountain communities’ land use patterns, including the US Rocky Mountain West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). Yet, its public planners and decision-makers typically use older tourism and sub-urbanization models that are inadequately responsive to amenity migration per se and its impacts. This condition has resulted in inappropriate land use & transportation policies reinforcing the cycle of automobile dependency & sprawl, and further placing greater demand on aging and failing transportation infrastructure. It also exacerbates systemically integrated and growing critical issues of environmental

degradation, energy consumption, reduced governmental funding, and mountain regions becoming more disaster-prone due to aspects of climate change. Recognizing and strategically responding to in-migration for greater quality of life as a driver is essential. The  inextricable relationship between land use decisions and transportation planning in the US Rocky Mountain West was demonstrated; key transportation issues identified; and a set of strategic means that should mitigate the existing condition were formulated. For research findings, see Glorioso, R.S. (2009) Transportation planning in amenity-rich mountain regions. In: Moss, L.A.G., Glorioso, R.S. & Krause, A. (Eds.) Understanding and Managing Amenity-led Migration in Mountain Regions, Banff Centre & IAMC, Banff, AB, Canada.

 Santa Fe Bioregion Amenity Migration Longitudinal Analysis, New Mexico, USA

This "place" analysis is part of a longitudinal global comparative research on amenity migration led by IAMC. Our partners have been the International Cultural Resources Institute, Ministry of Economic Development (Gov't. of Alberta), the Canadian Universities Consortium, All Indian Pueblo Council, and Center for Planning & Development Research (University of New Mexico). It is based on a 1986 study by Laurence Moss, "Santa Fe, New Mexico, a late modern amenity-based economy: Myth or model?". This was the first research on amenity migration where local & regional socio-cultural factors were explicitly identified as an attraction for migrants, both permanent and part-time. Motivation of economic migrants was also analyzed and integrated into the conceptual model.

The research approach, while emphasizing the socio-cultural dimension, integrates it with economic and biophysical aspects of amenity migration. The analysis uses both quantitative & qualitative methods, and is carried-out periodically. It includes testing the amenity migration construct comparing it with other quality of life heuristics. Findings have resulted in  greater understanding of the subject, informing the planning & managing of amenity migration's effects on transitioning rural communities and their natural ecologies, and most recently including water, food and energy security associated with climate change. The research is drawn on in a number of publications including:  Price, M.F., Moss, L.A.G. & Williams, P. (1997) Tourism and Amenity Migration, in Messerli, B. & Ives, J.D. (eds) Mountains of the World: A Global Priority. Parthenon Publishing, New York; Glorioso, R.S. & Moss, L.A.G. (2006) Santa Fe, a Fading Dream, in Moss, L.A.G. (ed.) The Amenity Migrants: Seeking and Sustaining Mountains and Their Cultures. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK and Cambridge, USA, pp. 73-93; and Chapters 1 & 3 in Global Amenity Migration (2014).

Amenity Migration in Rural Areas of the Czech Republic

This project began in 2008 in partnership with researchers at the Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, University of South Bohemia, University of Plzen, and University of Economics (Prague). Following from the amenity migration research undertaken by Romella Glorioso in the Sumava bioregion (1993-1999), this project focused on three rural regions of the Czech Republic (Sumava, Trebonsko & Plzensky) experiencing amenity-led growth & development, including shifts in economic base,  land-use  and population changes. The research identified and analyzed the systemic causes of this change, its parameters and likely future effects. The results was published in the monograph Amenitni migrace do venkovskych oblasti Ceske republiky. [Amenity Migration to Rural Areas of the Czech Republic] Kostelec nad Cernymi Lesy: Nakladatelstvi Lesnicka prace, s.r.o. (2011); and is drawn upon  in Chapter 17 Global Amenity Migration. Further research is now being carried out by Michael Bartos (Charles University) and Laurence Moss (IAMC). 

Planning & Managing Mountain Communities in Norway's Changing Economy & Society

In partnership with Eastern Norway Research Institute, this 4-year research project analyzes the role of mountain areas in Eastern Norway as attractive rural communities & urban recreational places, comparative interests of tourists, part-time and permanent residents, and related planning and management issues. For a summary of the project's results click here. For related publications contact Dr. Tor Arnesen at the Institute.

                                                                                                    Project Workshop, European Research Academy, Bolzano, Italy (Fall 2013)

research in progress 

Harmonizing Leisure and Working Landscapes in a Remote High-Amenity Region

  Motivations, Success and Failure of Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurs and their   Impacts on Transitioning Rural & Wildlands Political Economy and Culture

  Impacts and Implications of Amenity Migrants on Mountain Agriculture & Farming

  Structural Relationship of Amenity Migration and Tourism