Rural migration in Shkodra Region and its impact on environment and

development

Bresena Kopliku 1

bresena@unishk.edu.al

The relationship between population and environment is as old as the

humankind. Environmental changes have always been the cause and the

consequence of population movement. The effects of migration as one of the

main features of the Albanian population after 1990s are displayed in

economic, social or environmental aspects. On one side we face the pressure on

land in urban areas and on the other side the abandonment of entire areas in

the rural ones. Population movement is a typical feature of everyday life in

agricultural context. It can be appeared in the form of permanent or seasonal

migration, rural-urban or rural-rural, or even international. Therefore, in

recent years more attention is paid to the connection between population

change and especially migration, environment and economic development.

Environmental changes in the chaotic movements are displayed in the cases of

land desertification as a result of their abandoning or construction on

agricultural land, deforestation due to logging without any criteria or arson,

overuse of inert from river beds or mountain sites, non-selective hunting etc.

1 University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi", Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography

1

Migration - displayed in the form of permanent or seasonal migration, is seen

as one of the main mechanisms that bring the backwardness of rural areas and

the main reason that deepens the gap between regions expecting immigrants and

the areas where they leave. Still most nations with the best economic

performance over the last 40 years are those with the largest rural to urban

migration (Tacoli 2003:2).

As a result of migration rural areas loose labor force because the population

in working age occupies the highest percentage of emigrants. This includes the

most active economic and innovative groups of the population, which means the

young and the educated ones. Therefore the negative effects start to appear in

decreasing the agricultural productivity and the decline of interest for

renewal or modification of rural production system in general.

Remittances have come to fall and are used more for consumption spending (e.g.

housing construction) than in investments to increase production and rural

incomes (e.g. investments in new agricultural technologies that would increase

the value of products).

Immigrants back in their homeland, when they return from urban areas bring

with them, their working experience more convenient for the towns. But there

are cases of returnees who use their skills gained in rural areas of developed

countries to successfully apply in their farms.

Key words: rural area, migration, environment, sustainable development,

abandonment

2

Introduction

Protection of the natural environment and the resources that it provides is

the basis of the existence of life today and for future generations. The

activity of human society, as a mediator between the environment and

sustainable development, represents the main actor that positively or

negatively affects the continuity of life. There are potential links between

migration and the environment that occur in overcrowded urban areas where the

pressure is continuous, or abandonment or bad exploitation of land in rural

areas. The dynamics of population, important parts of which are migration and

internal mobility, are related directly to the use of land with evident

consequences on the environment, incomes, poverty and lifestyle

The rapid change of urban-rural population ratio is one of the main features

of the population of the North Region. Specific weight of the rural population

in the context of the general population of Shkodra has changed significantly.

In 1990 it was 65%, in 2001 62.7% and in 2011 55.7%. This rapid decline of the

rural population is most associated with the depopulation of rural areas and

especially mountainous ones than with the decline of natural growth. The

proportion of people living in urban areas is expected to grow. This is

because they offer greater human interaction; the store and accumulation of

knowledge and culture; and greater accent on modern services, infrastructure,

media, and diversions (often facilitated by economies of scale in production

or distribution) (Bilsborrow 2002: 3).

3

Chaotic population movements in the form of emigration or internal population

movements, especially based on the principle of laissez faire changed

significantly the physical and human landscape.

Fig. 1 Distribution of population per Qark, by altitude as a % to Albania

(Source: Regional Disparities in Albania)

Quantitative measurement of the impact of population’s movement is difficult.

However the change of physical and human landscape in itself is the most

visible manifestation of this intervention. As urban areas are those that are

facing more pressure exercised by population, numerous studies have focused on

the urbanization of society nowadays. This is due to the fact that although

population movements have been chaotic, they have been the basis of the rapid

urbanization of the Albanian society. In this way we see the creation of

"economic agglomeration" where was a concentration of the population,

4

especially in Tirana and Durres. Rural areas also have undergone rapid

transformations forcing their inhabitants under the risk to face new

environmental challenges as well as economic and social problems.

Migration – environment nexus

The development of relations of rural population with land in the context of

migration, has been dynamic and constantly changing. This interaction can be

seen in two main aspects, as on the increase of the demand for land, as well

as in its abandonment. The first case occurs not only in rural-urban

movements, but also rural-rural, mostly from mountainous areas to lowland

areas. Continuous arrivals increased pressure on forests and pastures due to

increased demand for agricultural land and building plot (Hanxhari 2012).

Deforestation is a direct consequence of this request. It removes the

protective vegetation, which usually leads to further consequences, such as:

flooding; soil erosion from water and wind; and decreased replenishment of

underground water aquifers (because of the lack of vegetation to slow water

runoff and the lack of tree roots to channel the water downward)(Bilsborrow

2002:5).

Regardless the fact that continuous fires during the summer time are related

to climate change and increasing temperatures, this is not the only cause.

Cutting and deforestation has tended to move from subsistence orientation in

the first years after the collapse of socialism, in commercial expansion in

the later stages (Sallaku F et. al 2011:213 ). Opening of new land for

5

agriculture, pastures, construction or other benefits from coal, constitute

deliberate arson causes by local residents. Only during the last summer (2012)

Shkodra district has had 25 fires covering 341 ha and totally burning 44.5 ha

of them. Out of these total of 341 ha, 202 ha were pine trees, 46 ha and 93 ha

pasture mixed. Forests constitute one of the main base natural resources, and

maybe the most important. Their destruction has serious consequences for the

residents because it increases the risk of erosion, flooding and landslides,

as well as a negative impact on biodiversity.

Decline in soil quality or biodiversity loss are other important forms of

environmental degradation. Degradation and desertification of the landscape is

the result of a combination of natural conditions and anthropogenic activity

which is really intensified after 1990. Soil degradation takes various forms—

including erosion, desiccation and declining fertility (Bilsborrow 2002:76).

Cultivation level of agricultural land is low and farmers use old agricultural

technology. Irrigated land area is limited and incomes are low, so this is the

main reason for the movement of people, and especially young people, to the

cities. (Dessena M,Ghironi I: 61).

Restructuring of Albanian society had significant effects on the spatial

structure of rural areas. Entire areas with arable land, or even settlements

as a result of rural-urban movements have been abandoned. (Goler 2005).

Internal migration is related with the abandonment of arable land by

mountainous and hilly areas. But agricultural land is also abandoned because

there are rural inhabitants which manage to live with the remittances from the

international migration. At the district level 13% of agricultural land is

6

refused or unused, but in 5 communes of Shkodra district it occupies from 64%

to 70%. As young age constituted a high percentage of emigrants, the loss of

rural labor force has high cost to local economy. Remaining residents have no

investment opportunities and due to old technology the agricultural land

remains uncultivated. These abandoned lands are degraded and desertificated

very fast. This process is intensified due to the reduction of the amount of

fertilizer they have taken which led to falling values of their organic

content, nitrogen and potassium. The profile itself is damaged, as

demonstrated in the diminishing of their thickness (Qiriazi 2010:87).

The displacement of population from mountain areas and their settlement in

lowland areas are associated with abusive constructions on agricultural land.

Entire significant areas of agricultural land are occupied by new buildings or

are slowly transformed to natural pastures. Irrigation and drainage channels

have not been maintained for a period of time, contributing their filling in

with vegetation and urban waste, a factor that negatively affects water flow

freely, especially in the period of precipitation. Despite the good quality of

land, the agricultural economy of the area is based more on the livestock

activity as a result of the depreciation of the irrigation network and

drainage or sewerage construction of a good part of productive land (Strategy

of Development of Dajç Comune). They risk losing their yield and fertility

because they are not worked and turned into barren land.

7

Fig. 2 Agricultural landscape in Shkodra region. (Source: RIVA project “A lake

to live in”)

Arable lands have been damaged due to changing weather conditions and floods

in recent years. Between November and March the level of the waste in the lake

increases threatening with serious flood the surrounding settlements2. This

phenomenon brings considerable increase of the water level in the lake,

flooding the surrounding agricultural land, resulting in the erosion.

Malfunctioning of pump stations positioned close to the riverside causes high

economic damages not only for agriculture, but also for inhabitated rural

areas tij. (Ferrara I, La Placa G :39). Situation is even more difficult in the case of

heavy industrial pollution (as hotspot of Bajza)

2 The risk increases due to the “grafulling” phenomena (reversing water flow) caused in the area of linking the two rivers just when increased if the amountof rainfall as well as that of water by hydropower of Vau I Dejes, The situation is aggravated by depositing greater quantity of sediments exactly inthe union the point. .

8

Migration is seen as balancing the unequal distribution of wealth and welfare,

but in the region of Shkodra regional disparities between rich urban and poor

rural areas continue to be visible. Due to the loss of living resources

directly related to land is affected a good part of the population, if we

consider the fact that 46.35% of Shkodra District is employed in agricultural

sector. This population is dependent on agriculture while its services remain

poor and very old.

We do have two different realities. Lowlands where neglect and misuse of land

burden economic development and mountainous settlements highly fragmented with

little access to national roads in the district. In addition the lack of

public services and extremely high dependence on social assistance, intensify

the degree of push factors where the decision to migrate is based on. (Table

1).

Tab.1 Data with low income from farming (Source: Promote Regional Development through

the Millennium Development Goals, Shkodër Qark)

Commune

Total

arable

land in ha

Land

rejected or

unused %

Forest area in

ha

Population with economic

assistance %

Shalë 834 69 2161 45.2

Shllak 400 65.5 4725 98

Vig

Mnellë 530 66 3615 62.1

Temal 212 65 3149 58.4

9

Pult 409 64 8486 86.3

Shosh 314 77.4 8230 83.8

Development impact of rural migration

Shkodra district is characterized by rich and dynamic ecosystems. Due to lack

of investments and immediate declining of industrial activity after 1990,

these ecosystems are not contaminated, especially in areas where traditional

agriculture is applied, including mountainous areas. Opening opportunities for

employment in rural areas is one of the main pillars that rural development

policies should support. Since the abandonment of land and its desertification

is a direct consequence of the emigration of the local population, especially

the young people. In this regard rapid diversification of the rural economy is

very important. Migrants continue to maintain links with their country of

origin, and this is seen in their contribution in funding financial means

(remittances), technological, social and human resources, which represents a

very significant capital for poverty reduction and economic development.

Remittances are considered the major link between migration and development at

origin (Mendola M, 2006:2). Remittances constitute one of the main sources of

capital to rural areas. Therefore, migration is seen as a force that can

affect development and as an integral aspect of local development processes.

The diversification of livelihoods is seen as an important process that may

help local development. But there is a difference in how rural inhabitants fit

in it. Poorer households often diversify as a survival strategy – for

10

instance, as they are pushed out of their traditional occupations and must

resort to different activities to minimize risks and make ends meet. Wealthier

groups with better education and access to capital often diversify because of

new opportunities (Tacoli 2003:5).

During the last years a tendency is seen to alter the structure of

agricultural crops to increase fodder, timber products or raising more

environmentally friendly economic activities in farming, forestry, apiculture,

ecotourism etc. Pult and Temal commune are applying with good results

collection and processing of medicinal plants; while in Dajc is applied the

cultivation of ornamental plants which are marketed abroad. Residents talk

about such positive experiences brought by Western immigrants who have decided

to invest their income in the origin country. In Shkodra prefecture there are

7893 citizens who returned from different developed countries since 2001

(INSTAT 2012). They have lived mainly in Italy and Greece and have brought new

experiences. Such cases remain sporadic and stronger support is needed to

encourage these initiatives. Besides all other factors, their initiatives are

even more difficult due to the small size of the farms, as a result of

fragmented land. Therefore, modernization has a very high cost and the

products fail to compete in the local market or wider. Remittances have come

to fall and are used more towards consumer spending (e.g. housing,

reconstruction) than in investments to increase rural production and incomes

(e.g. investment in new agricultural technology that would increase the value

of the products. )

11

Even greater challenge is the improvement of land use and the exploitation of

the environment in the remote mountainous areas. Due to the limits imposed by

nature, but also old infrastructure in these areas agricultural production is

lower, as well as incomes from other services are also scarce. Largest

immigrant flows come from these areas with more vulnerable environmental

conditions, limited financial means, less appropriate policies and limited

managerial resources to cope with these challenges. All these threaten the

sustainable development and exacerbate even further the standards and quality

of life. These mountain areas have also higher poverty rate expressed in

percentage of the population with economic assistance (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Share of the population with economic assistance.

12

13

Conclusions

The real challenge of research on migration is to answer how the ‘development’

impact of migration affects farm households’ ability to achieve sustainable

living standards and a better management of agricultural resources at origin

(Mendola M, 2006:5). Main directions of rural development must go towards

sustainable growth of farm incomes through a sustainable management of natural

resources including forests, meadows and waterways, creating new employment

opportunities and quality of life through diversification and improvement of

local infrastructure. (MAFCP 2007:2)

Shkodra Region is known for marked differences, especially between urban and

rural areas. In the general frame of Albanian migration it is also

distinguished the fact that remittances are often used to finance internal

migration to the urban areas (King et. Al 2003, Lucas 2005 cited in Mendola

2006). This form of remittance investment may concentrate the benefits of

migration, whether direct or indirect, upon Tirana and the other main towns

rather than upon the poorest rural areas (Carletto et. Al 2004, IOM 2005 cited

in Mendola 2006 ). Migration researcher’s results suggest that migration of

one or more household members is being used by rural households in Albania as

part of a strategy to move out of agriculture (Miluka et. al 2007: 2).

Establish appropriate regional balances and taking policies that help equal

competition would be a good incentive for a long-term sustainable development

and the most remote rural areas. "The weak endangers to weaken even more, if

special support is not offered to him” (Marinov 2010). This concept is known

as "closed circuit low capacity" and represents the risk of developing the

14

capacities only to a limited group of actors, usually those most developed

(e.g. big municipalities) and are usually the latter that are successful in

writing and winning projects ("Regional Development in Albania - the

challenges of development or integration?" Iris Kuqi, Dritan Shutina). Policy

makers and stakeholders should see migration as a potential which generates

good development opportunities through economic and social capital.

References

Academy of Sciences of Albania, Center for Albanian Studies (2005)

"Geographical Studies 16"

Bilsborrow R. (2002) Migration, population change and the rural environment”, ECSP

Report, Issue 8

Dessena M, Ghironi I “Economy and Population in Albania and in the area of

Shkodra lake”; “A lake to live in” RIVA project.

Data from the Shkodra Prefecture

Ferraro I, La Placa G, “Hydrologic and hydraulic aspects of Shkodra lake and

the importance of monitoring environmentally interventions”; “A lake to live

in” RIVA project.

Gould W.TS (2009) "Population and Development"

Integrated support for decentralization Project "Working for Regional

Development" (2010), Regional Disparities in Albania

15

Inter-Sectoral Rural Development Strategy Of Albania, Isrdsa 2007-2013 -

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection (MAFCP)

Mendola M, (2006) “Rural out-migration and economic development at origin.

What do we know?”, Sussex Migration Working Paper No 40

Miluka J, Carletto G, Davis B, Zezza A “The Vanishing Farms? The Impact of

International Migration on Albanian Family Farming”

Qiriazi P (2010)"Degradation and Desertification landscapes in our country as

continuous risk and ever-threatening" Albanological Studies IV

Sallaku F, Tota O, Huqi B, Jojic, Amir E, Fortuzi S (2011) "Impact of

Macroeconomic changes and property rights on Forest degradation, land use and

Environmental Situation in Albania" Sustainable development in mountain

Regions: Southeastern Europe

Strategic Development Plan of the Municipality Dajç, DLDP 2009

Shkodra Region (2005) "Promoting regional development through the Millennium

Development Goals"

Tacoli C, (2003) “Rural–urban transformations and the links between urban and

rural development”, Environment and Urbanization Brief, 7

www.instat.gov.al

16