6:15 PM - 7:30 PM
[O01-P29] The possibility of the Geopark in the marginal villages
Keywords:marginal village, geopark, population aging, Kitayama village, shimazu, sasabi
There are a lot of beautiful villages in Wakayama Prefecture. Kitayama Village is the only municipality which is a detached land, surrounded by Mie Prefecture and Nara Prefecture. It is famous for jabaras and river-rafting.
In fact, there are a few detached lands except for Kitayama Village. One of them is Shimazu, Kumanogawa-cho in Shingu City. Sasabi, Kumanogawa-cho is also a small village in a remote place, though it is not a detached land.
Shimazu and Sasabi are included in Nankikumano Geopark and have some Geosites. Shimazu has a population of 15 people and 8 households. The population aging rate is about 67%. Sasabi has a population of 30 people and 20 households. The population aging rate is about 87%.
Almost nothing has changed in these areas since a few decades ago, but one thing has changed. It is the fact that the population has been decreasing. These areas might disappear and be forgotten by us after several years. Even people in Shingu City do not know where these areas are. That is why we call them the marginal villages.
Young people move away from their hometowns for a variety of reasons. As a result, the rate of population aging accelerates in many villages. Some local people engage in various activities to do with such villages.
What could we do with the marginal villages through the Geopark activities? What has changed? Then what can we do from now on? We will explore the possibility of the Geopark in the marginal villages.
jabara: a citrus fruit made specially in Kitayama Village
In fact, there are a few detached lands except for Kitayama Village. One of them is Shimazu, Kumanogawa-cho in Shingu City. Sasabi, Kumanogawa-cho is also a small village in a remote place, though it is not a detached land.
Shimazu and Sasabi are included in Nankikumano Geopark and have some Geosites. Shimazu has a population of 15 people and 8 households. The population aging rate is about 67%. Sasabi has a population of 30 people and 20 households. The population aging rate is about 87%.
Almost nothing has changed in these areas since a few decades ago, but one thing has changed. It is the fact that the population has been decreasing. These areas might disappear and be forgotten by us after several years. Even people in Shingu City do not know where these areas are. That is why we call them the marginal villages.
Young people move away from their hometowns for a variety of reasons. As a result, the rate of population aging accelerates in many villages. Some local people engage in various activities to do with such villages.
What could we do with the marginal villages through the Geopark activities? What has changed? Then what can we do from now on? We will explore the possibility of the Geopark in the marginal villages.
jabara: a citrus fruit made specially in Kitayama Village