Evolution of multifunctional land-use systems in mountain areas in Italy

Abstract

This work presents an analysis of the evolution of the human activities in the Italian mountain areas, as regard
to the agricultural and the forestry land-use. Due to the large area occupied by woodlands, the analysis focuses
on the relationships between Man and forests. Three closely linked systems have been analysed: agriculture,
pasturage and silviculture, which are primary resources employed to satisfy human life needs for food and energy.
At a landscape level, crops and forest products remain departmentalised, even if linked to the pastoral element.
Two typical cases of multifunctional systems have been described: the first one related to the alpine area (Malga
and Maso Chiuso), and the second one concerning the Apennine area (chestnut orchards).The documentation on land-use in mountain areas underlines the deep-seated relationships that have developed over the time between the human activities and the forest. Until the middle of the last century, the agriculture-forestry systems were integrated into a fieldpasture-woodlands complex where the pasture portion was dominant. Today, the forest plays the primary role, since they offer an advantageous capital; correctly managed they can provide a diversified flow of services.