Causes and Patterns of Upland Migration

CAUSES AND PATTERNS OF UPLAND MIGRATION

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 3, 2015

To the larger segment of the population living in the lowland, the upland is a “land of uncertainty”.  The uplands have always been viewed with much uneasiness because of the fact that the more modern amenities of life that are present in the urban and rural but flat areas are not present in the uplands.  But in spite of these uncertainties, a segment of the lowland population still entertains interest in migrating to the uplands.  The question that comes to our minds is “why” and “what”… “Why would people want to do that? and What are the causes of upland migration?”

The most common reasons and causes for upland migration are:

1. POVERTY – This is the overriding reason.  Poverty-stricken lowlanders will more often speculate and opt to migrate to the uplands where there is a chance for them to survive and live.
2. LACK OR LIMITED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES – Those who deem themselves unable to cope with the steep competition for jobs and employment will, more likely, choose to take chances in the uplands.
3. LIMITED ACCESS TO LAND – Urban and rural poor (not necessarily upland dwellers) normally live in makeshift homes without the benefit of decent amenities or access to utilities.  If their homes are assemblages of thrown-away materials, the cost of land and landownership are issues and concerns that are unreachable to them.  The next best thing to do is consider migrating to the uplands.
4. RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS – Communities of informal settlers are more often resettled in upland areas.  Rather than get nothing at all after they are ejected, they normally accept offers for resettlement (even) in upland areas. 

What then are the usual patterns of upland migration?  It appears there are three patterns of upland migration, which are:

FIRST:  The head of the family, usually the father, goes to the target area to test the conditions in the uplands.  If the conditions are favourable, the rest of the family follows.

SECOND:  The entire family goes and settles in the area even if they do not know what awaits them.

THIRD:  This involves lowlanders moving to the uplands just to plant crops or utilize resources available there.  In this case, they actually do not live there and cannot be considered real immigrants.

These migration patterns plus the normal increase in population of (original) upland dwellers has been (and still will be) exerting continuous pressure on the available resources in the uplands.

These are the causes and patterns of upland migration.

Just my little thoughts…

(Please visit, like and share Pro EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/.)