The sustainability of past agro-silvo-pastoral systems

This paper explores the concept of continuity to better understand sustainability and population dynamics in two mountain areas—the Entzia plateau in the Basque Country and Bosco Fontana in the Ligurian Apennines. Both sites, still managed through shared agro-silvo-pastoral practices, reveal long-term land use shaped by local communities. Through archaeology, archival research, and environmental analysis, we compare how resources were activated, managed, and contested over time. The study shows how alternating collective and individual practices led to diversified landscapes and ecological sustainability, offering valuable insights into sustainable management and the role of continuity in shaping territorial and environmental histories.