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Mountain forests have long stood as sentinels of traditional customs and providers of essential resources, but they now face unprecedented threats due to climate change, nature loss, and land degradation. Recent data reveals a chilling statistic: over the past two decades, more than 7% of all mountain forests worldwide have been decimated, an area equivalent to the size of Turkey. The loss of these forests has reached an alarming pace, with rates nearly doubling after 2010.

Italy is home to a variety of mountainous regions, including the Italian Alps, the Apennines, the Sardinian Highlands, and the Sicilian mountains. While many boast beautiful and diverse landscapes, a handful of these regions are considered marginalised, meaning that they face socio-economic disadvantages in comparison to other mountain areas. Although the degree of marginalisation can vary over time, affected mountainous regions largely include those located in Southern Italy, central parts of Sardinia, the Northern Alpine valleys, and the Apennine mountains.

Since the turn of the last century, there has been little doubt that to survive in fragile mountain territories, things had to be done together. But how has this way of managing goods and resources changed in recent times? The story of five young people and two mountain villages in Italy invites us to reflect on the role that the collective management of goods and resources can play today.

MARGISTAR has announced a new conference grant to support researchers from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC). This conference grant offers researchers and innovators under the age of 40 and active in Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) or Near Neighbour Countries (NNCs) funding for attending and presenting at academic conferences until September 2023.

MARGISTAR, an EU-funded COST Action aimed at furthering inclusive, competitive, and green mountainous regions, was launched in collaboration with 27 countries and more than 100 participants this April. The project supports international collaboration that invites scholars, inhabitants, civil society, entrepreneurs, local government, and policymakers to work together to bring about transformative change towards more connected and resilient mountainous communities.

Europe’s mountainous areas cover almost 40% of the continent and are home to 17% of its human population. However, mountainous areas are also characterised by disparity, poorer territorial cohesion, unbalanced protection and use of ecosystem services, exploited natural resources, and marginalisation.