Belluno and the risk of internal migration

In the province of Belluno, the young population, aged between 15 and 34, fell by 40% between 1982 and last year. Demographic decline and depopulation are not forgiving and, if it continues like this, in 2043 there will be just 66,000 inhabitants of working age, i.e. between 35 and 64, compared to almost 82,000 in 1982. A recent study by the Cisl Belluno Treviso Studies Office draws the picture. However, the situation is already weighing on the production fabric, as Confindustria Belluno has repeatedly pointed out. From manufacturing to tourism, various economic sectors are feeling the shortage of personnel in a province that has lost almost 10,000 inhabitants in the last decade. This is also why the news that the neighbouring autonomous province of Trento intends to allocate non-repayable grants for the renovation or purchase of buildings in 32 mountain municipalities has caused disquiet among local industrialists. Lorraine Berton, president of Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti and national delegate for the mountain economy, is the spokesperson for this concern. She is worried that the Trento initiative could encourage 'internal migration and intervals,' proving to be 'lethal' for the Belluno area. What is lacking, according to Berton, is not economic resources, but a vision and concrete projects. 'Not being an autonomous province must not be the usual alibi for not doing, for not talking about the future. We cannot wait for Godot because in the meantime we risk dying of starvation,' says Berton, guaranteeing openness to any proposal. 'Our priority is and will remain to make a concrete commitment to keep companies in the area. And given that, in the Belluno area as elsewhere, the fight against depopulation is also linked to the housing emergency, Roberto Padrin, president of the province of Belluno, who a few weeks ago launched an ad hoc plan, has also commented on the situation. Among the actions envisaged is the renovation of some provincial-owned properties to obtain various lodgings and respond, for example, to the needs expressed by workers from outside the province. "Changing the demographic course of a mountain province is not easy and cannot be done overnight. But by integrating a series of projects and initiatives, a brake can be put on depopulation," said Padrin.