Geography and Citizen Science in "Empty Spain"
The progressive decrease in inhabitants of many municipalities in rural Spain since the 1960s has resulted in very low population densities. Spain's dying interior areas are unsustainable for the maintenance of current living standards and the contraction of the productive fabric, which is reduced and not very diversified.
This is not an exclusive phenomenon to the interior of the Iberian Peninsula, nor is it homogenous throughout Spain.
Depopulation happens particularly in territories whose original population model is based on the atomization and small size of the original nuclei. Its regression compromises its viability.
These areas are called empty Spain.
Spanish population in 1961 and in 2019
You can explore this map to see the population of each municipality. You can also see it at different geographical scales and their evolution.
Density maps help us see where the population centers in Spain are today and where they were in 1961.
They also help to identify the empty Spain.
What would happen if we looked more closely at statistics such as accessibility, connection, housing and income?
The inhabitants of rural areas are affected by this phenomenon that they experience and know well.
There are more and more sources of statistical information to study this phenomenon that interests many experts ( access to bibliography ).
Citizen Science is scientific research proposed under a collaborative and accessible formula (Capel, 2014; Bolici and Colella, 2018).
It creates a collaborative community of specialists and citizens, who not only collect and generate information, but also participate in the process of analysis and interpretation under the coordination and tutelage of the researchers promoting the project.
It has a dual purpose:
- for society to collaborate in its growth (participative in the collection of information).
- for society to benefit from the findings (dissemination, disclosure, discussion).
The citizen science project GEOVACUI gives voice to the inhabitants of the empty Spain through interviews, surveys and personalized communication with the participating community.
Survey acce ss
Mains causes
- Lack of real rural culture.
- Difficulties in accessing land and housing.
- Disregard for the work in the field and the productive value it has for society.
- Poor quality of employment, seasonal, low paid...
- Low social appreciation of life in the villages and of those who inhabit them.
Responsible parties for the problem
- Economic model.
- Values of the welfare society and its way of life.
- Inadequate public and private policies.
- How it reflects on the city (happiness, success, security) and the rural environment (failure, delay).
- We are all responsible for our actions.
Primary solutions
- Change of economic and social paradigm.
- Taxation and policies adjusted to reality and equality among regions.
- Reducing administrative and environmental obstacles.
- Improve infrastructures for remote working and co-working.
- Modernizing the field and its image.
The citizens who have participated in GEOVACUI are optimistic and believe that there is still a solution for the empty Spain. But for success it is necessary:
1. To associate with others, working in partnership and collaboration.
2. To improve basic quality services, as well as transport and communications.
3. To promote entrepreneurship.
4. To improve the salaries and employment contracts.
5. To dignify the rural areas and its inhabitants.
