I N - M I G R AT I O N
SW10
What
What Is It?
BENCHMARK
In-migration refers to the movement of persons into
Develop coastal zone management
Develop
a given community or municipality from another
(CZM) plans that incorporate projected
department/district/state or country. Persons who
in-migration rates, social infrastructure
make such a move are called in-migrants. (Immigration
and environmental conservation needs
and emigration, in contrast, refer specifically to a
for all coastal areas in the MAR.
for
move from one country to another.)
TA R G E T
Two indicators are commonly available from census
data to track a given area's in-migration patterns:
Implement CZM plans that incorporate
Implement
(a) the percentage of the population born in the
projected in-migration rates, social
department or district in which they currently reside
infrastructure and environmental
(i.e., as of most recent census), and (b) the percentage
conservation needs for all coastal areas
of the population 5 years of age or older who did not
in the MAR.
live in the municipality five years prior to the most
recent census.
RED FL AG
The first indicator provides information about historical
Any coastal area with high in-migration
in-migration patterns, while the second one provides
rates or levels. No progress in
information on recent in-migration patterns.
developing
developing CZM plans.
Why
Why Do We Measure It?
The negative social and environmental impacts
conflict with local practices and increase pressure
of rapid and uncontrolled in-migration are easily
on existing resources. One such conflict in the MAR
observable throughout the MAR region, especially
region involves the increasing involvement of new
along the outskirts of cities and towns along the coast.
fishers from Guatemala and Honduras into Belizean
Commonly, existing services and infrastructure are
waters. Although these immigrant fishers often have
unable to accommodate rapidly growing in-migrant
legal fishing licenses, the Belizean fishers complain
populations. New, spontaneous settlements are
that they use fishing techniques that display a lack of
created without access to proper sanitation facilities,
respect for and understanding of laws and customary
clean potable water sources and power lines. Existing
and sound fishing practices. They express the concern
educational and health services are overwhelmed.
that these practices are placing increased pressure
Green areas may be cleared and paved over to
on the country's already delicate fishery resources 28.
accommodate new shacks and houses. The resulting
How Do We Measure It?
situation increases health risks for the population,
provokes deterioration in environmental quality and
The data required to calculate these two measures of
poses the potential for overexploitation of local natural
in-migration are commonly collected in the national
resources.
housing and population censuses applied every 10
years. During the census, for each individual in the
In-migration may also impact established patterns
population, the place of birth is recorded as well as
of resource conservation and use. The "newer" the
place of residence 5 years prior to the census (for
population in a coastal area, the less likely there is
all individuals born by that time). This information is
to be strong identification with the conservation of
compared to the place of residence at the time of the
local resources and resource use patterns based on
census to generate the indicator values.
long-time identification and experience with the area.
It might also be expected that newer populations are
Usefulness
less socially cohesive and less willing and able to
make conservation investments today to ensure future
The governments in the MAR region typically lack the
benefits. Newer populations may also introduce new
resources and level of organization to control and
natural resource uses and management practices that
provide a rapid response to in-migration. Evidence of
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