Population Dynamics in Spanish Mountain Areas: Case Study of Two Regions in the Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

Carmen DELGADO VIÑAS1
1 University of Cantabria, Department of Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, Cantabria, SPAIN 
E-mail: carmen.delgado@unican.es
Pages: 207-217

Abstract. This paper synthesizes some of the most significant results of a research project that has been developed along three years, from 2007 to 2010, in which researchers from several Spanish universities participated. The main objective was to detect and diagnose conditions that occur in the current process of socio-economic renovation and innovation in mountain areas. At the same time, we addressed the study of dynamics and processes of change that have occurred in these areas in recent years.  All these have determined new forms of occupation and organization, set new directions in land use and opened a discussion on the balance that this model represents. Today, one of the main problems afflicting many of these mountainous areas is the low human occupancy as evidenced by the predominance of extremely low population densities. Most municipalities have an average density of less than 10 inhabitants/km², which is considered the threshold of “demographic desertification”. This weak potential makes difficult to revitalize locally and impairs the development without input of outsider population.

K e y w o r d s:  mountain areas, depopulation, territorial dynamics, rural development, Cantabria