The impact of environmental awareness on the population of rural areas of the municipality of Niška Banja

Abstract

Rural areas of the Niška Banja municipality are facing pronounced demographic challenges, including depopulation, population ageing, and migration towards urban centers. Although these processes are most often associated with economic factors, increasing attention is being paid to environmental conditions and the level of environmental awareness as important determinants of quality of life and demographic trends. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of environmental unawareness on demographic processes in rural areas of the Niška Banja municipality. The research was conducted using a survey method on a sample of 56 respondents living in rural settlements of the Niška Banja municipality. The data were analyzed quantitatively and presented in tables. The results indicate that a significant proportion of respondents have a low level of environmental awareness and that environmentally irresponsible practices, such as improper waste disposal and waste burning, are widespread in rural areas. More than two-thirds of respondents believe that environmental conditions fully or partially influence their decision to stay in or leave rural areas. The study concludes that environmental unawareness represents an important factor that indirectly contributes to negative demographic trends. Improving environmental awareness and environmental management can play a significant role in enhancing quality of life and slowing down depopulation processes in rural areas.