According to the OECD, territorial relationships have deeply changed in recent decades. Improvements in communication technology, increasing movements of peoples and goods, and changes in land use have reshaped the relationships between urban and rural areas. This is also true for mountain areas, where large metropoles like Milano have recently been integrated in new development strategies – such as the macro-regional strategy for the Alps.

Urban and rural areas are interconnected through different functions (demographic, economic, delivery of public services, provision of ecosystem services…). To encourage an integrated functional approach based not only on win-win partnerships but also on the recognition of the added value brought by rural areas, mountain territories should be recognised not only for their attractive landscapes and good quality of life, but also for their expertise, economic contribution, and capacity for innovation.