Common Property Forest Management in Northern Italy: A Historical and Socio-Economic Profile

Abstract

"Evidence of common forest management can be found in numerous statutes dating from the Middle Ages and relating to alpine village communities known as regole, patriziati, comunalie, etc. Written rules regarding duties and rights were laid down to regulate the social and economic life of village community members. Direct democracy was applied to such an extent that the chief of the regola was not elected but rotated each year from among the heads of the village families. Common forest and pasture management was at the heart of the community's activities and determined the social and economic life of the alpine rural areas."