Demographic conditions and territorial development of Torre de Moncorvo (North of Portugal)

Abstract

The development of some rural areas, such as most municipalities in the Portuguese interior, are completely dependent on the maintenance and retention of their population. The strengthening and qualification of a minimum number of inhabitants are necessary for the local dynamization processes. In this paper it is proposed a theoretical approach and the data presentation for a case study—the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo in the Douro valley region (northern Portugal). The main objective of this contribution is to demonstrate that the population maintenance is crucial to the local development. The social, economic, and territorial aspects are mutually dependent and determine the sustainability and the future dynamics of this kind of rural territories.