Where now there are the villages surrounded by meadows and pasture fields, in the prehistoric times, this area, was completely covered by a thick forest. This huge forests crossed by many streams (such as Fiorentina, Codalonga Cordon, Loschiesuoi...) filled with water from nearby glaciers, supplied game to hunters, who occur here for the summer hunt.

As shown by the Neolithic Mandriz site, the shepherds already existed before the end of the first millennium BC. It was from this period that the valley started to be systematically populated. Hunters and shepherds with their flocks, began to use the pastures in the areas of Paso Giau, at Possedera and Fertazza, at Staulanza, Forada and Forcella Roan. In the high-medieval era, woodsmen and minerals researchers (such as iron and lead) joined shepherds and hunters to populate the area.

The newcomers, who came from Val del Boite, built considerable settlements, first seasonal and then permanent. The landscape slowly began to change as settlers built houses,(in the climate places that were supplied with water) that in time turned into "Vile", with a high concentration of population as to not infringe upon the agricultural areas. Beginning in the thirteenth century, craft and iron mining endeavors were added to the agricultural industry. These new industries attracted more immigrants who became coal miners, blacksmiths and smelters. In later centuries residents cultivated the land up to 1600 meters of altitude and raised the mowing up to 2000 meters to meet the increased demand for food.

Selva di Cadore is currently set in a superb frame of the most famous Dolomite Mountains. The majestic and lonely Pelmo, the bold Civetta and, in the background, the Marmolada glacier, with its enduring snow, while up north, the wild amphitheater of Cernera's group separates the valley from Cortina d'Ampezzo. Selva di Cadore counts less then 600 people whose speech is part of the "Dolomitic Ladin", from which has retained many features both phonetic and lexical. The primary industry of the village is tourism, both summer and winter and related activities.

The Ladin culture of the valley is still alive in the costumes and in the folk traditions that enrich festivals, processions and the most important demonstrations. The spoken language continues to spread through texts and dictionaries.