Sustaining agriculture and pastoralism in mountainous regions

Mountain agriculture and livestock farming keep upland landscapes productive and rich in biodiversity, but they are imultaneously under pressure from land abandonment, rising costs, labor shortages, extreme weather events, and increasing erosion. In Greece (e.g., Karpenisi, Samothraki, Crete, Andros), the sustainability of mountain ecosystems depends on healthy pastures, access to water, and the maintenance of terraces and landscape infrastructure. Soil and water protection at the farm level, together with rational/controlled grazing, reduces degradation and helps maintain the yields of mountain agriculture. Key soil protection interventions include controlled grazing, protection of riparian zones, restoration of stone-built terraces and dry-stone walls, ground cover and cover crops in mosaic farmland plots and smallscale water collection/storage. Agroforestry and nature-based solutions (hedgerows, buffer strips, restoration of wetlands/erosion hotspots) strengthen resilience and ecosystem services. Digital tools (GIS/remote sensing) support targeted interventions and monitoring, while local collaborations and short value chains can reward good practices and help keep young people in mountain areas.