“…Accordingly, the abandoned lands suffer a rewilding process, but, in spite of the several benefits provided by forests, their growth at the expense of croplands, meadows and pastures, especially in mountain areas, represents a critical issue, being at the same time a new challenge and opportunity in terms of land use planning and politics (e.g., Conti and Fagarazzi;Huston, 2005;Sitzia et al, 2010;Navarro and Pereira, 2012). On one hand, the natural revegetation represents a positive opportunity in terms of mitigation strategies [(see Kyoto Protocol (KP), UNFCCC, 1997], due to the enhancement of potential carbon sinks (Corona et al, 2005;Salvadori et al, 2006;Lamedica et al, 2007). On the other hand, the depopulation of rural areas and the abandonment of agro-pastoral practices, seem to have several potential negative impacts from environmental, economic and social perspectives (Conti and Fagarazzi, 2004;Marchetti and Barbati, 2005;Sitzia et al, 2010;Agnoletti, 2014;Sallustio et al, in press).…”