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Environmental influences on human migration in rural Ecuador
Clark Gray1, Richard Bilsborrow
1Department of Geography, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3220, USA. cgray@email.unc.edu
Demography
|January 16, 2013
Summary
Environmental factors do not consistently drive rural migration. Instead, households adapt to changing conditions, leading to complex migration patterns, challenging assumptions about climate-induced displacement.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Demography
- Sociology
Background:
- Growing concerns link global environmental change to mass human displacement.
- Quantitative studies on environmental factors influencing migration, especially in developing nations, are scarce.
- Research is needed on gradual environmental changes and their impact on migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the impact of environmental conditions on human migration in rural Ecuador.
- To analyze diverse mobility patterns including local, internal, and international migration.
- To develop and apply rigorous methods for studying environmentally induced migration.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a retrospective migration survey in rural Ecuador.
- Integrated survey data with topographical, climatic, and weather shock data.
- Employed multivariate event history models to estimate migration determinants.
Main Results:
- Adverse environmental conditions did not uniformly increase rural out-migration.
- In some instances, environmental factors were associated with reduced migration.
- Households exhibited varied and complex adaptive strategies in response to environmental changes.
Conclusions:
- Environmental conditions have a nuanced, rather than direct, effect on migration decisions.
- Rural households demonstrate significant adaptability in navigating environmental challenges.
- The study offers an alternative perspective on environmentally induced migration, emphasizing resilience.
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