How Italy’s Mountain Re-Population Program Will Affect Its Natural Beauty
As regions such as Trentino aim to combat a stagnant population by subsidizing the renovation costs of whoever is willing to come and stay in the region for a full decade, there are environmental risks to consider.
How Italy’s Mountain Re-Population Program Will Affect Its Natural Beauty
The Italian subsidization of their mountaintop properties aims to breathe life back into depreciating Italian towns, however, there is much more to the story.
The Program
The residents of Trentino, a beautiful mountainous region bordering the Swiss Alps, are suffering economically. The town has been in decline for decades, due in part to a declining job market and a population that is increasingly aging. With a population of younger residents remaining stagnant, growth is stifled in the region. In order to combat this, the region of Trentino is offering up to €100,000 to individuals willing to move to the region and use the money to restore a home. These individuals are expected to live in the home for at least 10 years to keep the subsidy, or rent out the space in their place. There is a cap of €200,000, meaning that the new owner can pay for a total of €100,000 out of pocket for renovation. This cap exists to keep the town relatively small, and not provide land to already wealthy landowners who may want to transform the property into something larger.
Environmental Concerns
Mountainous regions in particular are subject to the effects of climate change, with regions such as Trentino seeing a sharp increase in their average temperatures, which can be seen clearly through a general reduction in snow coverage on the mountains in the area. Besides the warming temperatures, the region, due to its vast beauty, has seen a lot of tourism. Ski resorts that were built within the region are particular offenders to climate concerns, as such resorts have a direct impact on the mountains in terms of disrupting natural wildlife and typical deforestation efforts. However, officials of the region are largely aware of these climate impacts and have visions to make the region sustainable including increasing biodiversity and strengthening local ecosystems. Yet, in light of the region’s recent investment in stimulating the aging population and bringing more people into their towns, Trentino rides a fine line and must be wary of the effects a growing population will have on the environment in the region.
Pros and Cons
The re-population efforts Trentino is undergoing may provide an overall positive effect on the environment. Re-population efforts will bring more agriculture and forestry to the region, which, given proper regulation, can provide benefits. Sustainable farming efforts have been seen to improve the biodiversity of the land, and the region has been focusing on such efforts in recent years. Another benefit of a larger population is more people to care for the area and physically maintain the mountains. While these are some positives, given the lack of regulation, the region may be subject to over-development and aggressive tourism efforts that would not have sustainability as a main focus. As stated prior, the €200,000 cap on renovations seeks to limit over-development, but this cap is only for those who participate in the program. If the area becomes lucrative enough to investors, it could be possible that developments such as more resorts may be built. Another influence of re-population is the resource strain that comes with more people. If the area is unable to provide sufficient resources for a growing population, then it will place increasing strain on such resources in the area.
Recap
As regions such as Trentino aim to combat a stagnant population by subsidizing the renovation costs of whoever is willing to come and stay in the region for a full decade, there are environmental risks to consider. While Trentino has had a focus on sustainability in the past, it is very possible that if this focus wavers, the region will become even more susceptible to the changes in climate that have already negatively influenced the natural beauty of the mountains.