The Effect of Rural Migration on Land Resources
Between 1957 and 2007, 800 million people worldwide moved from rural areas into cities, according to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization. The moves are driven by war, poverty and drought, which can also compel people to move from one rural area to another. In either case, heavy migration may ease the strain on land resources in the migrants' homelands, but it can also cause a number of new problems.
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Water
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In many parts of the world, drinkable water is a scarce resource. The World Water Forum states that when rural residents migrate, the water demand may decrease in their old homes, but not necessarily enough to solve water shortages. Additionally, it can create new water shortages in the destination, which can lead to further migration.
Farming
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The UN's Population Information Network points out that migration can reduce pressure on agricultural land and food supplies. However, the loss of farmers and farm workers in an area can also lead to a decline in agricultural yields. This, in turn, can lead to the remaining workers adopting unsustainable farming practices that increase land degradation.
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Subsistence Crops
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According to the Population Information Network, the effect of rural migration on farming can be particularly bad for subsistence crops, which farmers grow to feed themselves rather than for sale. Family members who don't migrate often exchange subsistence crops with relatives who moved to urban areas in return for manufactured goods. If the exchange doesn't reward the farmers enough to keep growing subsistence crops, they'll grow less and the total food supply will decline.
Population Growth
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Population growth in many parts of the world already puts a huge strain on resources. The Population Information Network states that if migrant workers are able to bring in more money and send it home, women may be able to afford more children, replacing the workers who've migrated. This can lead to an increase in population and added demands on resources.
Environmental Degradation
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A 1990 study in "Population and Development Review" found that in Guatemala, as the population migrated from densely populated farming areas to wilder, less populated regions, deforestation, soil degradation, watershed destruction and urban areas sprawling out into prime agricultural land occurred.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit sand hill crane migration image by Mike & Valerie Miller from Fotolia.com
