The depopulation of inland areas is advancing on the island, but the inhabitants are growing on the coasts
Cna's proposals to counter the phenomenon
The phenomenon of depopulation of inland areas continues in Sardinia but, in contrast, the inhabitants of coastal areas are growing.
This was revealed by Cna, the National Confederation of crafts and small and medium-sized enterprises, with a specific projection which shows that compared to the 1960s, the demographic decline of the inland municipalities reached more than 137 thousand people in 2020 (-21 %), while the growth of the population of the coastal strips amounts to + 303 thousand people (+ 40%).
And if in 1961 the population located in the internal centers was equal to 47% of the regional total, in 2020 it dropped to 33% and at this rate, it could drop to 29.7% in 2050.
Furthermore, the study still says, of the more than 60 thousand fewer residents in the municipalities of the interior, 35% come from migratory movements (over -20 thousand), the rest can be traced back to the component of natural movement (stillbirths).
While as regards the total income produced by residents, between 2012 and 2019 it decreased by 42 percent for inland areas and instead decreased much less along the coasts, or by 1.8 percent. For Cna in the interior of Sardinia, over 230 billion euros have been lost in just 7 years.
“The shareable measures contained in the Stability Law aimed at curbing the demographic decline and the birth rate must be accompanied by serious and concrete local development projects - is the proposal of the artisan association -. Allocate ten million euros to identify 2 villages / municipalities / territorial areas of the interior of Sardinia on which to experiment the construction of a development model that starting from the distinctive features, vocations, strengths of the village / municipality / territorial area, define a program and a local development strategy ". Therefore" it is necessary to look as a priority to the municipalities of the hinterland, enhancing the strengths and vocation of the territorial areas involved by promoting naturalistic, experiential, religious, sports, food and wine cultural tourism, promoting local culture, economy, traditions and handicraft starting from the artistic and traditional one ".
Everything is contained in an open letter that the regional president Luigi Tomasi and the secretary Francesco Porcu sent to the governor Chistian Solinas and the councilor for planning Giuseppe Fasolino.
(Unioneonline / ss)
