To preserve open landscapes in mountain: Differentiated contributions according to the different farming systems. A case study in Tarentaise valley (F-Savoy)

Abstract

Agricultural land use appears essential to maintaining open landscapes in mountain. These landscapes are regarded as an amenity by society and represent main stakes for local development in mountain regions. That is especially the case in the Tarentaise valley (F-Savoy), where a demand for landscape quality is expressed by local people due to the considerable tourism activities and by Beaufort-cheese cooperatives, whose strategy is to connect the quality of the cheese produced with the quality of landscapes and environment. The contributions of farming systems to open landscapes in the Tarentaise valley were studied. Because of their importance to landscape two types of agricultural areawere selected: slopes and areas with shrub development. The land uses were analysed according to the different farm types.