This thematic area focuses on population decline and dynamics, social welfare, quality of life, access to services, community resilience, youth and family life, and the conditions that make mountain areas attractive and viable places to live.

Sustainable mountain development depends on whether people can live with dignity, access services, create livelihoods, raise families, participate in community life and imagine a future in their place. Demographic revitalisation is approached through the connection between livelihoods, services, cultural identity, social innovation, local participation and territorial governance.

The methodological work of Goussios and Gaki on rural reception and settlement underlines the importance of combining housing, employment and services, mobilising local resources, creating local reception networks and preparing communities to welcome new populations through participatory diagnosis and collective action.