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1. Definition
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Name
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OLD
AGE INDEX
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Brief
definition
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Ratio
of population over the age of 65 to population under
the age of 5.
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Unit
of measure
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Percentage
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2.
Position within the logical framework DPSIR
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Type
of Indicator
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Driving
force. The strong demographic imbalance in this marginal,
rural context, is the result of the heavy emigration
rate of young people, which in turn is a cause of
land abandonment and degradation.
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3.
Target and political pertinence
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Objective
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To
determine and define the areas at risk of desertification
(as demonstrated in the Agri Valley, Italy) choosing
to use indicators of land use management quality based
on characteristics and status of the population.
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Importance
with respect to desertification
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This
indicator is part of a set of tools to develop a Land
Management Quality Index to define and map Environmental
Sensitive Areas with particular reference to the Agri
Valley in Basilicata, Italy. Together with the other
indicators of soil, vegetation and climate quality,
it contributes to the elaboration of development strategies
compatible with the resources available in a given
area.
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International
Conventions and agreements
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The
UNCCD emphasizes the fact that combating desertification
must be tackled within the general framework of actions
to promote sustainable development.
Within
Agenda 21 the old age index is relevant to Chapter
12 - Management of fragile ecosystems: combating desertification
and drought.
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Secondary
objectives of the indicator
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Within
the ESAs model objectives include: a) Investigation
of the individual processes linked to land degradation
and desertification; b) development of countermeasures
and strategies to protect land from desertification
and to promote sustainable development; c) comparison
with the physical-environmental characteristics of
other target areas.
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4.
Methodological description and basic definitions
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Definitions
and basic concepts
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The
age index measures the relationship between the population
over the age of 65 and that under the age of 5. In
the context of the Agri Valley, the purpose of the
indicator is to point to the strong imbalance that
exists between the large number of elderly people
and the low birth rate.
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Benchmarks
Indication of the values/ranges of value
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There
are four classes
- <200
- 200-400
- 400-500
- >500
Each
class is assigned a score. The score, multiplied by
the other scores pertaining to retirement, illiteracy
and employment, defines the Management Quality Index.
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Methods
of measurement
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Limits
of the indicator
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These
are linked to the difficulty of applying the classification
in different contexts to the one in which the indicator
was developed, i.e. an economically marginal context
of rural poverty in an area with limited development
prospects.
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Linkages
with other indicators
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The
old age index, combined with the retirement index, Employment index and literacy rate is used
to form an indirect index of the management quality of an
area with specific demographic characteristics compared to
the rest of the country.
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5.
Evaluation of data needs and availability
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Data
required to calculate the indicator
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Statistics
pertaining to the characteristics and status of the
population.
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Data
sources
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National
statistics institutions
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Availability of data
from national and international sources
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The data is easily obtainable
from the main national statistical institutions.
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6.
Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator
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Main
institutions responsible
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Dipartimento
di Produzione Vegetale - University of Basilicata,
Italy
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Other
contributing organizations
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7.
Additional information
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Bibliography
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Ferrara
A., Taberner M., De Natale F., Bellotti A., Mancino
G., Faretta S., 1999. Identification and assessment
of environmental sensitive areas by remote sensing.
In. Mediterrannean Desertification and Land Use -
Final report phase III (1996-1999). Contract ENV4-CT95-0119.
Thatcham, UK, pp. 397-428
Basso
F., Bellotti A., Faretta S., Ferrara A., Mancino G.,
Pisante M., Quaranta G., Taberner M.; 1998. Degradation
processes in the Agi basin: evaluating environmental
sensitivity to desertification at basin scale. Proceedings
of the International Seminar held in Porto Torres,
Italy 18-20 September 1998: pp 131-145.
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Other
references
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Contacts
Name and address
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Dipartimento
di Produzion Vetgetale - Università degli Studi della
Basilicata. Via N. Sauro 85 - 85100 Potenza - Taliy
Scientific director: Prof. Agostino Ferrara
Tel: (971) 474171/54973-Fax (971)-474269
Email: ferrara@unibas.it - ag.ferrara@agora.stm.it
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