Migration and Conservation: Issues and Interventions

1. Migration and Conservation:Issues and Interventions Kimberly Hamilton, PhD Migration Policy Institute Washington, DC

2. Issues and Interventions • “Disciplinary boundaries between social and natural scientists have hindered the study of the interrelationships between demographics and the environment.”Lori Hunter, University of Colorado, Boulder • “An important subfield of [population and environment studies] is migration and the environment, which has attracted considerable attention from researchers in recent years, although hard evidence on the relationship is still very limited.”Richard Bilsborrow, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill • “Immigration policy must be a compromise of economic, social, cultural, political, and environmental elements.”Graeme Hugo, Adelaide University

3. A Demographic Perspective on Migration • Definitions: who is a migrant? • Concepts: push, pull, transnationalism, etc. • Global Migration Trends of Interest • Immigrant Policy • Questions to Consider

4. Population Primer Population(t)= Population(0) = Births - Deaths + [In-Out Migration]

5. Characteristics of Migrants • Permanent or Long-term • Temporary, Seasonal, Circular • Skilled or Unskilled • Legal or Unauthorized • Protected or Persecuted • Rural or Urban • Complex motivations to migrate

6. Some Concepts of International Migration • Push Factors: Lack of economic opportunity, underdevelopment, conflict, human rights abuses, environmental degradation, rite of passage • Pull Factors: Networks, labor demand, family reunification, amenities • Neoclassical economics: A reaction to labor market disequilibria by individuals • Household economics: A decision at the household level to minimize household risk • Transnationalism and Networks: Ties that link individuals across countries/space

7. Global International Migration Trends • 175 million people live in a country other than where they were born. • Migrants make up three percent of the world’s population (6.1 billion). • 60 percent live in more developed countries. 40 percent live in developing countries. • 1 in 10 people in more developed regions (Europe, North America) is a migrant. • 1 in 70 in developing countries is a migrant. • Most of the world’s migrants live in Europe (56 million), Asia (50 million), and North America (41 million) Source: UN Population Division

8. Total Population, International Migration Flows, and Migration Rates 1995-2000 Source: UN Population Division Net Migration Trends

9. Trends of Particular Interest • Refugees and those of concern to the UNHCR (2002) • 10.4 million refugees (and 9 million others) • Global refugee population is declining, from 17.8 million in 1990. • But new exoduses continue to occur (Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic). • The number of returnees has also increased.

10. Refugee Overview: 10 Largest Groups (2003) Source: UNHCR 2003

11. New Refugee Arrivals: 10 Largest Groups (2003) Source: UNHCR 2003

12. Trends of Particular Interest • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) • Fall “between the cracks” of protection, but have received recent attention. • Displaced by violence, armed conflict, persecution within own country. • Estimated 22 million: Sudan, Colombia, Angola, Iraq, etc. Source: USCR 2003

13. Trends of Particular Interest • “Development-induced Displacement” • 10 million per year since 1990 (World Bank est.) • Causes include: Dams, irrigation, reservoirs Urban Transportation Mining and energy-related activities Agricultural expansion Parks and forest reserves Population redistribution programs

14. Trends of Particular Interest • “Environmentally-induced Migration” • Estimates range: 25 million today to 150 million by 2050 • Causes include: Deforestation Drought Exhausted agricultural land Land scarcity Rising seas and falling water tables • There is no agency mandated to respond to environmentally- or development-induced migrants.

15. Trends of Particular Interest • Aging and the “birth dearth” • Median age of developed world has increased from 29 to 37 years, expected to climb to 45 by 2050 • Today, 15 percent of the population is over 65, may increase to 30+ percent • Median age in developing world is 24, to reach 36 by 2050 • Concern about labor availability and pension support in rich countries • What the experts are saying: • Increase fertility • Permit more immigration • Increase labor force participation • Raise the age of retirement • Reduce pensions

16. Asia • Significant intra-regional movement • Feminization of migration flows: Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. • Large Chinese emigration, estimated at 30 to 50 million • Demographic disparities: Japan and South Korea • Trafficking Source: IOM World Migration 2003

17. Latin America and the Caribbean • Growth in migration to Canada and the US, especially Mexico • Significant intra-regional movement: Latin America, Central America • Brazil: shifting from immigration to emigration • Columbia: 2 million internally-displaced • The Caribbean has some of the highest emigration rates in the world, especially to the US Source: IOM World Migration 2003

18. Africa • North African movements toward the European Union • Agriculturally-driven migration in West Africa • Mining and agriculturally-driven migration in southern Africa • Ethnic conflict and forced migration in Central Africa • Special concern with brain drain and HIV/AIDS Source: IOM World Migration 2003

19. Immigrant Policy: What we know • Status matters: unauthorized status complicates all other areas of integration (education, health, employment). • Education/language skills for adults and children improve integration outcomes. • Employment opportunities for men, women, husbands and wives improve outcomes. • Planned and sustainable housing can support integration.

20. Immigrant Policy: What we know • Efforts to build relationships among local government, NGOs, community groups need to continue over time. • Not all solutions are local: nationalgovernment has a role. • Programs should involve long-term residents and newcomers; false distinctions between types of foreign-born: refugees, immigrants, ‘temporary’ migrants, & undocumented. • Can these “socially-oriented” efforts translate into desired conservation outcomes?

21. More questions to consider • With more people on the move than ever, with complex motivations, how can we incorporate conservation knowledge into their decision-making process? • How can we balance the need for immigrants in some areas, immigrants’ own desires, the right of individuals to move, and the importance of environmental resources? • Are local solutions sufficient? Does government policy matter? • How can your demographic/migration policy colleagues help?

22. Useful Resource on International Migration Migration Information Source (www.migrationinformation.org) Special issue on migration and the environment coming this autumn