Acceleration and Relocation of Abandonment in a Mediterranean Mountainous Landscape: Drivers, Consequences, and Management Implications

Land abandonment in European mountains threatens habitats shaped for centuries by low-intensity agriculture and grazing. Hence, it is important to identify spatiotemporal patterns rural abandonment, relate them biophysical socioeconomic drivers. We pursued these goals the theoretical context of transitions from traditional productivist then post-productivist agriculture. conducted a case study representative southern Europe sub-mountainous marginal area that was once traditionally exploited (Pindus range, Epirus, Greece). cover mapped outset (years 1945, 1970, 1996 2015), we subsequently calculated landscape metrics. An Intensity Analysis facilitated comparison rates land change between time periods. By employing random forest modelling, related socioeconomic, physiographic, geological climatic predictors type occurrence succession intensity. found farmland decreased 30% 3% during 70 years period, increased 22% 63%. The landscape’s heterogeneity, ecotone diversity, spatial aggregation decreased. Abandonment accelerated relocated lower elevation, especially latest which second depopulation wave livestock decrease. remaining lowland farmlands were agriculture, no widespread regime found. Thus, our supports view policies, have been mainly based on linear transition agricultural regimes northern Europe, must take into account mountains, where can coexist with limited intensification extensification.