The Atlas of Guadeloupe

Summary

The paper reviews *L'Atlas de la Guadeloupe*, the final volume in a collection of atlases of French overseas departments conceived by Guy Lasserre. Created by a multidisciplinary team from research centers and universities, the atlas aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive geographical foundation for regional planning and economic development. The content systematically presents the physical environment, including the complex volcanic geology of Basse-Terre, the karstic landscapes of Grande-Terre, tropical climates and cyclone hazards, and the distribution of vegetation and soils. A detailed historical overview traces population dynamics from the colonial era through the abolition of slavery to the recent demographic transition, highlighting the rapid decline in birth rates and the role of migration to metropolitan France. The socioeconomic analysis focuses on agricultural systems, notably the historical dominance and restructuring of sugar cane and banana exports, the modernization of livestock raising, and efforts to diversify crops. Additional sections assess forestry, artisanal and modernizing fisheries, and the limited industrial sector. The atlas concludes that Guadeloupe’s economy is highly dependent on metropolitan support, with deep ethnic and social divisions overlapping land tenure patterns, while demographic control and agricultural rationalization mark the most significant recent trends. The work stands as an essential reference tool for understanding the island’s spatial organization and the challenges facing its tropical environment.