The habitat is represented by Juniperus communis-dominated open shrublands with form a complex mosaic with grassland patches. It is a secondary formation occurring in areas where agro-pastoral practices have been abandoned and thus it may represent pre-forest stage.

These environments host remarkable diversity of plant and animal species, particularly birds and Lepidoptera rhopalocerae, most of which are classified as having an unsatisfactory conservation status at the European, national and Natura2000 site scales. The conservation status of this habitat is classified as unfavourable-inadequate in all three biogeographical regions of Italy.

For the territories of the project, the Habitat occurs in the SACs IT5180011 (Mountain pastures and bushes of Pratomagno), IT5180005 (Alta Vallesanta), IT5140005 (Muraglione – Acquacheta), IT5180002 (Upper Arno Basin Forests), IT4080002 (Acquacheta), IT4080003 (Monte Gemelli, Monte Guffone). The project will affect almost 10% of the total surface area of the habitat occurring in the SACs.

These dry to semi-dry calcareous grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea are one of the most widespread secondary habitats in the EU. Itrepresents a key biodiversity hotspot  with the world record of density in vascular plants species (Wilson et. al 2012) and particularly diverse animal communities (Pӓrtel et al. 2005). Italy is a key country for the conservation of the habitat, as it accounts for 43% of the EU’s total habitat extent (Calaciura & Spinelli 2008). The conservation status of this habitat, classified as unfavourable-bad in all three biogeographical regions of Italy,  is often threatened by natural reforestation following the abandonment or reduction of grazing and mowing practices. .

The conservation status of the habitat is generally considered unfavourable in the project SACs, with reductions in area and changes in structure due to afforestation processes. The project will affect more than 13% of the total habitat area in the SACs

In the territories covered by the project, the habitat is present in the SACs IT5180011 (Mountain pastures and shrublands of Pratomagno), IT5180002 (Upper Arno Basin Forests), IT5180005 (Alta Vallesanta), IT5140005 (Muraglione – Acquacheta), IT4080002 (Acquacheta) and IT4080003 (Monte Gemelli, Monte Guffone). In all the SACs, except for IT5180011 and IT5180002, only the priority form is found.

There perennial Nardus stricta-dominated grasslands  occur on siliceous soils and their high species diversity mainly depends on pastoral activities linked to traditional extensive agriculture. The disappearance of such practices or overgrazing leads to an impoverishment of specific diversity and colonisation by shrub species. Italy hosts over 23% of the total habitat extension in the EU (Galvánek & Janák 2008). The conservation status of this habitat, classified as unfavourable-bad or inadeguate in all three biogeographical regions of Italy.

In the project areas included in the continental region, the habitat is present in the SAC IT5180011 (Mountain pastures and shrublands of Pratomagno), where its conservation status is classified as unfavourable, with reductions in area and changes in structure due to afforestation processes