Potential supply and actual use of cultural ecosystem services in mountain protected areas and their surroundings

The potential supply of ecosystem services is often assessed using land cover data. Assessment actual use by beneficiaries remains less covered and assumed to be congruent with supply. However, we believe that contribute the sustainable management multifunctional landscapes, more insights are needed on links between landscape characteristics various facets services. In this paper, assess cultural (CES) such as recreation, inspiration or scenic beauty in three European mountain protected areas their surroundings. We study alignment CES. CES was modelled six biophysical indicators derived from earth observation open geospatial For use, employed participatory mapping area visitors local experts. a function indicators, weighted (i) stated (ii) revealed visitor preferences, accessibility each generalized additive mixed-effects models. Accessibility alone could explain around 50% variability additional inclusion ‘natural features’ variable, models reached an explanatory power 80% for all case-studies. Importantly, information data cannot fully describe there little congruency use. Additional socio-cultural features required patterns locations where enjoy Our results can inform addressing thereby provide evidence conservation planning management, including offering rewarding experience nature visitors.