The landscape of the central Apennines is markedly diverse. Dynamically formed re­lief is covered by a mosaic of different vegetation types. For centuries, local forests are managed as coppices – type of management common in former Czechoslovakia up to last century. Biodiversity of these oak and oak-hornbeam forests gradually declines due to the abandonment of coppicing. Thus, a visit to the central Apennines and study of their forests provide a valuable insight into the problem of species diversity decline in the former coppices of Central Europe.