Disentangling the drivers of marginalisation in Mediterranean inlands: A case study in the Sardinian mountains

Farmland abandonment is a growing issue in many mountainous regions worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. The central region of Gennargentu-Mandrolisai in Sardinia (Italy) is particularly susceptible to this trend due to its distinctive topography, its remote localisation and the distance from the primary urban centres of the region. In fact, this region was traditionally suited for agro-silvopastoral systems, but it was included in the national strategy for inland areas mainly because of the demographic decline and land abandonment. This paper aims to identify the main drivers of rural marginalisation, abandonment and de-anthropisation by combining qualitative and quantitative spatial data. Qualitative data were collected from 30 farmers’ interviews targeting young, dynamic, innovative farmers in order to identify possible triggers for maintaining agricultural activities. A diachronic analysis of land use from Corine Land Cover maps at five different dates over thirty ye...