Keithtoon

I found this very interesting.

Retired in Euskadi

Thanks. He quoted lots of statistics!
España vacia is a permanent problem for governments here. Of course rural populations do not contribute to much voting power.
Spain is determined by its geography.
Until (if ever) a government can provide these empty regions with a solution to the problems of unemployment, water & basic services like health, transport, high speed internet then unfortunately they will continue to remain depopulated.

Keithtoon

you are not wrong!

Moses2013

Then again, do humans have to be everywhere? This seems like a good solution
https://rewildingeurope.com/rew-proj...po-de-montiel/

Stingychips

Great video. I live in one of those areas that has been affected by depopulation.

Listen Very Carefully

Its not just Spain. Here in France many rural areas that were once viable have now literally fallen apart as young people move in search of jobs transport links close and poor connectivity mean that many villages are slowly turning into ruins as the rush by Brits to buy doer uppers has dried up post Brexit . Some areas are trying to get on the front foot.For example in Brittany the local government is trying to roll out fast broadband etc and has had some success in attracting young professionals with a family to the area as a result.However as a result of a lack of joined up thinking a TGV line into Brittany has been truncated leaving TGVs to run on ordinary lines

Retired in Euskadi

True. Humans seem to have a great capacity to damage the environment at any cost. Farmers have always understood the land they try to earn a living from, but these days, farming is not so attractive to young people as other jobs.
Rewilding also has its problems, such as the re-introduction of wolves, who then do what is natural, and kill lambs, bringing them into direct conflict with farmers.
I've always thought that a Minister of Agriculture/Environment is one of the most important posts in any government. The French know that better than we in Britain or Spain.

spainrico

I do not agree with some of his points - I was in Extremadura (famous for having nothing - no airports, only just getting the AVE, low population etc) but in many small villages I walked through there was 5G coverage.

Also - although I do not have children here I was under the impression (from friends who do) that the tax relief for having children with 'familiar numeroso' was a good deal and so having a family was tax beneficial (and probably other benefits)

I agree birth rates are low (across some sectors of the population) but other factors are in play - better education > people want careers and not family and less social pressure to have kids compared to previous eras.

But yes some interesting stuff albeit not all new information.

dougal03

It is the same in the UK.The little village that I am in at present,on the south coast of England,has an infrequent bus which the many elderly residents rely on.The small number of shops are gradually closing etc.And the big problem with the bus situation is that there are fewer drivers willing to take up the work now we have had Brexit.

Loafing Along

There a few interesting pages on FB with people making the effort to repopulate abandoned pueblos .
This is just one example :
https://www.facebook.com/pueblosabandonadosenasturias