Pastures are lands in which the repeated action of herbivore grazing and trampling allows the growth of herbaceous plants, except trees and shrubs, even when these were originally present in the area. The majority of Apennine pastures were produced by man-made deforestation to make space for agriculture and pastoralism. The abandonment of mountain areas and the development of intensive farming are the main threats to these habitats; when neglected, they first change into shrublands and subsequently into woods. These processes are clearly visible with shrubs and trees spreading in the pasture, making it increasingly inaccessible and wild. Although this phenomenon leads to the expansion of forests, the reduction of these habitats results in the disappearance of numerous grassland species, such as orchids, other herbaceous plants, numerous birds and pollinating insects.