Rural depopulation, social resilience and context costs in the border municipalities of central Portugal. Dichotomies of social reorganization vs absence of public policies

Abstract

<p>The border territories of the central region of Portugal with Castilla y Leon and Extremadura in Spain have been experiencing, during the last decades, depopulation dynamics and socioeconomic reorganizations that transformed the forms of work, the models of social organization and occupation and land use. The aim is to analyze and reflect on the demographic trajectories and their territorial implications, tackling depopulation with sustainability strategies. The local government initiatives have been unable to reverse trends of depopulation and the progressive abandonment of the settlements, agriculture and traditional industries, resulting in the loss of identit.</p>