Should Alpine cultural landscapes, created and maintained over centuries by mountain dwellers, be preserved, or should nature be allowed to reclaim these areas as wilderness? This topical question, currently debated by decision makers across the whole European Alpine region, is the subject of in-depth discussion in the book under review. The authors have succeeded in drawing a very detailed picture of the current situation in the southern European Alps, as well as providing practical suggestions and recommendations for the area's future management.

The book derives from a research project supported by the Bristol Foundation, Zurich, and implemented by the Institute for Landscape Management in Freiburg, Germany. It comprises the results of 2 PhD theses by 2 of its 3 authors (Susanne Lehringer: Consequences of Depopulation and Abandonment on an Alpine Landscape and its Population—A Case Study of Strona Valley in the Piedmont (Italy); Franz Höchtl: Landscape Development and “Wilderness” in the Val Grande National Park), as well as 6 master's theses. The research project was supervised by Prof. Werner Konold, the first author of this book, who is an expert on the history and ecology of cultural landscapes and their elements. The main goal of the project was to analyze “the effects of progressive land use abandonment on alpine landscapes, its inhabitants and users” in the Italian Piedmont. The authors chose a transdisciplinary approach, combining methods of historical landscape analysis, vegetation analysis, and empirical social research. The book is structured into 3 parts, the first describing the geography, history, culture, and ecology of the study area; the second offering a detailed description of the methodological approaches and the results of the research project; and the third presenting the discussion of the results, followed by conclusions and suggestions for the future management of the study areas.

The research project focuses on 2 study areas in the Italian Piedmont Alps near the Swiss border: the upper Strona valley and the village of Premosello Chiovenda. The study areas share historical, landscape, and social backgrounds. Both are characterized by a long history of depopulation and land use abandonment, a widespread phenomenon in the Piedmont Alps. However, the 2 areas also differ in important ways. Premosello Chiovenda is populated throughout the year and is situated inside a protected area—the Val Grande National Park, which is advertised as Italy's “largest wilderness area.” For this reason, its population hardly engages in agricultural activities. In contrast, parts of the upper Strona valley are populated only during the summer months due to a lack of functioning infrastructure and maintenance. There are no protected sites in the Strona valley, and large areas above Campello Monti are still used as mountain pastures.

The study results show that reforestation in both areas has already reached an advanced stage. In the Strona valley, for example, the area covered by forests has increased by 74% over the past 60 years. Today, only 9% of the total area is still used for pasture, and hardly any agricultural activities are carried out around the villages. Agriculture is mainly practiced as a pastime or to generate part-time income. Many paths are no longer maintained and have become overgrown. Interviews and questionnaires show that in both study areas, local residents perceive and regret these latest developments, whereas the opinions expressed by tourists and visitors are ambivalent—while they appreciated the cultural history and diversity of the area, they were also enthusiastic about the region's tranquility and wilderness.

The authors conclude that future strategies in the study areas need to be tailored to the local situation, and that the local population must be closely involved and participate in decision-making processes. The decision on whether to conserve a cultural landscape or to abandon the area and let it naturally convert into “wilderness” depends on very specific regional and local circumstances. Solutions must therefore be sought in participatory processes. According to the authors, wilderness areas as they exist in the USA, where the term was originally coined, are not compatible with the cultural heritage of Europe's Alpine regions; the establishment of such an area in the study area is therefore not desirable.

This book is very up-to-date and approaches a phenomenon that affects the entire Alpine area. It offers a great amount of detailed information on the history, culture, and vegetation of the area. Even though its findings might not be easily transferred to other Alpine regions without making adaptations, the book still provides valuable information for decision-makers facing similar problems. The authors' successful combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods supports the book's high quality standard and density of information, as well as its integrity. The text is illustrated with many figures, maps, and pictures that make it appealing to read and foster a better understanding of the contents. Despite its size, this book is highly recommended not only for decision-makers or experts dealing with similar questions, but also for a broader public interested in sustainable mountain development and in the history, culture, and ecology of the Piedmont area. The authors succeed in involving their readers and making them curious to visit the area. It is regrettable that no English translation is available.