Allie Andrade

11/3/15
Spain Exploration Seminar
Professor Hicks

Challenges and Opportunities of Changing Demographics in Rural Spain

As with many other countries around the globe, the turn of the 19th century brought about

rapid industrialization and economic development in Spain. However, not all areas experienced

growth. As centers of industry built up and became metropolitan areas, rural villages saw a mass

exodus of people as they left their homes for these urban centers. This rural depopulation, as

Pinilla et al. (2008) describes, may be understood as a process affecting regions where the rural

exodus outstripped natural growth, thereby reducing the total number of inhabitants to a critical

level, particularly in terms of population density and aging of demographic structures. Rural

depopulation can have enormous ramifications for community dynamics and demographics.

This extreme depopulation process has been occurring for more than a century and has

been led primarily by exodus of youth in search of the opportunities and amenities lacking in

rural areas, particularly in education and employment (Collantes & Pinilla, 2004). Access to

quality employment, education, and other modern amenities were also among the driving forces

of the depopulation as perceived by residents of the rural village, Posada de Valden, located in

Spains national park of Picos de Europa. Drawing on my personal experiences and interactions

with locals in the rural community of Valden, as well as lectures and scholarly literature, this

paper explores the challenges and opportunities currently faced by rural communities in Spain

due to changing demographics and how these might be exacerbated by the implementations of

European Union mandates.

 The depopulation of youth in rural areas can lead to a deep loss in the areas economic

viability. Pinilla et al. (2008) examines the effects of demographic and economic decline in the

Aragon region of Spain, which has suffered one of the most dramatic population declines in the

country. Pinilla writes, depopulation has affected rural areas almost exclusively and it may

unquestionably be regarded as the most severe threat to local economies. Younger people tend

to leave rural areas for the increased opportunities provided by larger cities. However,

employment and economic opportunities in rural areas tend to diminish right along with the

younger population, as the areas no longer have youth to provide economies of scale and the lack

of youth discourage any potential investors (Dr. Susana Rodrguez Escaniano). This creates a

positive feedback loop and further hurts the area by reducing economic opportunity for the next

generations.

Similarly, the aging population left behind in the rural areas tends to lose its political

leverage, as mentioned by local residents of Valden. These rural villages lose both manpower

and relevance in the current political arena without younger generations to push their agendas

through to governing bodies, making it easier for the government to ignore or shut out these

populations from the decision-making process.

Both the loss of interest in more traditional ways of life and the loss of people from these

areas can have a profound affect on the landscape makeup and community dynamics. The

number of people leading traditional ways of life, such as subsistence farming or cattle

ranching, has decreased rapidly. The people who continuously work the land have shaped many

of these rural landscapes. The decrease in traditional livelihoods has made the maintenance of

human-shaped landscapes difficult. With the decrease in population, new growth has had the

opportunity to move in as maintenance becomes more difficult and causes a shift into a new,
post-manipulation landscape. The mayor of Valden, Alonzo, provided a great example of this at

the roundtable. He discussed the grazing lands of Valden, which are a common pool resource,

owned and governed by the entire community. As demonstrated by Elinor Ostroms Governing

the Commons, the maintenance of common pool resources requires the efforts of everyone in the

community to maintain and ensure continued prosperity into perpetuity. However, in Valden,

depopulation and a shift away from traditional livelihoods has led to a decrease caretakers of the

commons and as a result, the commons has started to deteriorate. Before the mass emigration out

of the area, many people practiced smaller-scale farming and smaller individual heards roamed a

greater part of the area. Now, far fewer people are practicing cattle ranching, but their practices

have become more intensive. With less people contributing to the commons, vegetation has

become overgrown and allowed for Beachwood trees to take over the landscape. This change in

landscape, in turn, has had tremendous effects on the type of species that can be supported by the

land. For instance, the wild grouse population within the park is now dwindling due to the loss

of the species habitat and foraging opportunities (Dr. Mariano Torre Antn). As the landscape

continues to shift, so will the fauna it supports, which could have major unknown consequences

on the parks tourism industry if the flora and fauna that once attracted people to the area begin

to disappear.

Many of the challenges brought about by rural depopulation can be even furthered by the

implementation process of EU mandates. In conversations with locals from Valden, it was very

apparent that there is palpable tension between the implementation of the EU mandates within

the park and the local perceptions of the mandates. Among some of the most common grievances

about the mandates, as heard at the roundtable discussion, were mentions of unreasonably
restrictive regulations, a lack of consideration for local opinion, and a lack of cohesive planning

or programming.

The perception that EU mandates are too restrictive has had a massive effect on these

areas. In a survey mentioned in Dr. Mariano Torre Antns lecture, it was found that people feel

the management regimes in Picos de Europe National Park were three times stricter than those of

other national parks. The local people do not feel animosity toward the park itself, but mostly

with the management regime of the park. The locals appreciated the resources provided and

money brought in by the park, but they dislike the restrictions on individual freedom. Dr.

Mariano Torre Antn additionally stressed that the locals like the park and the benefits it brings

the community, in terms of installations and subsidies. However, they feel the governing of the

park has led to much too constricting rules. In conversations with people from Posada, many

people cited the restrictive regulations as yet another incentive for people to leave, since

landowners do not have the freedom to do what they wish to the land they own. Toms, a

community member of Valden who helps govern the commons, recalled at the community

roundtable the restrictions in place that prevent clearing brush and trees near water on land that

he, himself, owns. If a tree were cut down, he would face a fine of eighty euros. He expressed

anger at not only being able to do what he wants on his own land, but also the potential danger

that might occur when the river overflows. Similarly, the regulations within the park on fire use

have contributed to the loss of the traditional use of fire to clear brush in the mountains.

Additionally, these regulations have a tremendous effect on the economic state of these

areas. In Valden, the restrictions prevent much of the desired development from occurring,

hindering the tourism industry from truly taking off in the area. Many residents have high hopes

for the community should it be allowed to develop the necessary infrastructure to support
tourists. While the imposed restrictions have been set in place to prevent the degradation of the

land, the residents insist that they also have a stake in protecting the lands beauty and

biodiversity since that is what attracts tourists and it would be in their best interest to protect it.

This further ties into the lack of community input in the decision-making process, which

only further fuels the anger and animosity toward the management regimes within the park, as

many feel as though their voices are simply ignored or unwanted. There is no outreach for

community input in the local decision-making process, alienating residents. Active participation

from community members in the governance of the region within which they live can be very

beneficial to the management goals within the park. When people feel that they have a part in the

policies that govern them, they will be more accepting of and more likely to abide by such

policies. Toms mentioned at the roundtable that the lack of a PRUG, or a Master Plan for Use

and Management, exemplifies the fact that nobody is listening to the local voice or has sought

their input in the management of local resources.

Similarly, there is a lack of comprehensive planning among all the parks within the

Spains nation parks system. This has lead to unequal governance of the national park lands,

especially in Picos de Europa. In Picos de Europa, the autonomous community of Castilla y Len

imposes stricter regulations in comparison to rest of the park that lies in either the Austuras or

Cantabria province because it is considered the green lung of the park. The unequal

governance has only served to deepen the feelings of resentment toward the implementation of

the mandates because Castilla y Len residents who are forced to abide by the strictest

regulations can see the benefits of the tourism industry and greater economic development being

reaped in other provinces, and yet, are prevented from taking part. At the roundtable discussion,

several community members expressed bewilderment over the difference in regulation between
provinces and a desire to see all three regions under equal regulations. Community member and

deputy mayor, Jos, perfectly summed up the situation in his remarks that Len has been too

excessive in incorporating the mandates. There is not enough common sense, not enough money,

and too much managementthe directives dont respond to the reality of Spains wild land

situation. Why have parks created for national interests, but governed by three different regions?

It doesnt make sense.

With the many difficulties brought about by the rural depopulation and changing

demographics, there is still tremendous potential for positive changes in these rural areas. One of

the greatest strengths of these areas is their strong sense of community. In Posada de Valden, I

witnessed first hand how tight-knit and close the community was. Everyday, community

members gather outside of the local caf to smoke and socialize. Not to mention, the mayor is

incredibly accessible and can be seen walking around town and chatting with residents. These

kinds of tight-knit communities have the potential to be a great asset, if they can mobilize and get

their voices heard.

Meanwhile, the regional governments and park mangers need to do a better job of

involving the public in the decision-making process and engaging these small, rural

communities. The desire to get more involved is clearly present based on remarks made by

community members, but policy-makers need to make a greater effort to reach out and seek

public opinion. Additionally, there needs to be more cohesive planning for the entire national

parks system to establish uniform goals throughout all autonomous regions to prevent discord

among community members and ensure continuity in the protection of Spains natural resources.

Another opportunity presented by changing demographics of rural communities is the

gap in the communities workforce, which provides a space for immigrants to come in and fill.
This could potentially reinvigorate the economies of rural areas as immigrants bring a new labor

source, wealth, and innovation. Both immigration and the growing rural tourism industry are

beginning to create a shift in local economies and demographics in some areas. The global

economic crisis in 2008 had serious ramifications in Spain. As unemployment soared and city

life became too expensive, urban-to-rural migration began to occur (Pinilla et al., 2008). People

left the city for the countryside as a means to save money and live more self-sufficient lifestyles,

bringing new ideas for businesses and helping to revitalize some of these areas (Minder, 2012).

This urban-to-rural migration is also facilitated by the policies enacted after the economic

crisis to stimulate the economy, particularly in rural areas. On a regional scale, the province of

Castilla y Len enacted the Plan for Rural Development in 2010, which sought to enhance the

economy by promoting the agriculture sector, protecting the rural environment, and encouraging

economic diversification (European Network for Rural Development).

On a national scale, the Strategic Action Plan for National Employment changed the

nations traditional employment processes, making it easier for the unemployed to find work or

start their own businesses, as well as promoted alternative methods of work (Minder, 2012). The

Spanish government worked to get the nations unemployed youths more involved in the

agriculture sector, which saw an 80% increase in youth hired by 2012, and for each youth hired,

6 other jobs were created. Additionally, in 2012, a new law passed that created an authorized

telecommuting structure that allowed workers to live far away from their place of work and more

help was made available to self-employed people to help them through the paperwork to receive

welfare benefits (Dr. Susana Rodrguez Escaniano). These new policies worked to make it easier

for workers to move into these rural areas that are less expensive, but still keep their jobs in the

city or even start their own new businesses.

 Over the last several decades, these rural areas have also become more popular tourist

destinations with Spains increasing urbanization. This has provided greater incentive for people

to relocate to rural areas and take advantage of the growing tourism and service sector.

Additionally, these areas have more opportunities for work due to the difficulty of replacing the

active population. This holds true particularly for foreign-born immigrants, of which Spain has

seen a significant boom in over the last three decades (Pinilla et al., 2008).

The implications of increased work opportunities for immigrants in rural areas could be

dramatic for the community makeup and potential for economic prosperity, especially within

Valden. With more comprehensive planning and the establishment of a PRUG, Valden could

see much greater growth with the expansion of tourism possibilities. In Paniagua and Moyano

(20007), the authors examine the recreation initiatives within rural Spain. The article cites that

locals who have remained in the area after a mass depopulation are capable of establishing

social and economic leadership and can act as a bridge for returning migration. Having

witnessed first-hand the passion and love for their homes that the locals of Valden possess, I

believe that they have the potential to lead a great change in their communities should they

maintain a strong community structure through the change in demographics and a potential

influx of immigrants. They may be in a unique position to finally get their voices heard in local

government and reform the governance process, particularly within the nation parks system.
 Works Cited:
Antn, Mariano Torre. Lecture, Spain Exploration Seminar, Len, Spain, September 2015.
Collantes, and Vincente Pinilla. 2004. Extreme Depopulation in the Spanish Rural Mountain
Areas: A Case Study of Aragon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Rural
History 15: 149-166.
Minder, Raphael. 2012. The Country Beckons Spaniards as Jobs in Cities Grow Scarce. The
New York Times.
Ostrom, Elinor. 1990. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective
Action. Cambridge University Press.
Paniagua, and Eduardo Moyano. 2007. Public Right and Private Interest in Selected Recreation
Initiatives in Rural Spain: A Sociogeographical Perspective. Tourism Geographies, 9(3):
275-295.
Pinilla, Ayuda, and Luis-Anonio Sez. 2008. Rural Depopulation and the Migration Turnaround
in Mediterranean Western Europe: A Case Study of Aragon. Journal of Rural and
Community Development 3: 1-22.
Rodrguez Escaniano, Susana. Lecture, Spain Exploration Seminar, Len, Spain, September
2015.
Rural Development Programme (RDP) of Castilla y Len, Spain. 2010. European Network for
Rural Development.