The Landscape Change in the Alps—What Postcards Have to Say about Aesthetic Preference

Land use changes in the Alps over last few decades have been characterised by a significant increase forest coverage as result of abandonment marginal agricultural sites. Natural afforestation and species protection laws affected ecosystem, therefore services provided mountain environment, including landscape structure aesthetics, changed. This work assess ecosystem offered forests since 1954 region Italian Alps. Some ES were estimated this with GIS, others taken from literature or authors’ previous works. Since 1950s, such growing stock, hydro-geological hazards carbon storage increased. Deer other risen number. On hand, there has depletion open space for priority habitats black grouse capercaillie. Old postcards used to understand land change people’s aesthetic preferences. To determine preferences landscape, we records 300,000 postcards, sold during nearly two decades. The most often chosen postcard portrayed 1970s mix space, different scenario that buyers could observe. sales 20 years business dates obtained research allowed us perform quantitative analysis main subject photo was good predictor number sold, according generalised linear models (GLM); overly exploited landscapes, dense buildings significantly less likely be chosen. Artificially reinstating areas will boost biodiversity recreate resembles historical agro-ecosystem without interfering forest’s functions. These findings help managers policy makers evaluate cultural resources face changing landscapes.