Role of Common Properties and Municipalities in forest management of Veneto Region (Italy): conflicting or synergic relationship?

Italian forestland ownership system is characterized by various local public and semi-public (or semi-private) institutions with different internal rules, competences and functions. The paper tries to describe the ongoing status of these institutions in the light of their recent development. In the past, Common Properties superintended to several aspects of local community life and acted as main regulator of the use of natural resources. Thought to be unable to promote technological and economic development in the agriculture sector, common domains have been tackled since 19th Century: common lands were progressively “freed” and put under the administration of Municipalities. Today, a new wave of devolution and institutional reorganization poses new focus on the role of forest commons in ensuring environmental conservation, and fostering socio-economical development of mountain areas. Moving from a renewed favourable State legislation, some Italian Regions promoted their reconstitution. The paper, based on information collected through a semi-structured questionnaire carried out among representatives of Municipalities where Common Properties exist, investigates the degree of cooperation between Municipalities and either long-lasting and newly reconstituted Common Properties. We try to demonstrate that not always the outcomes of the transformation of municipal forests to Common Properties are positive in terms of enlarged public participation by local residents, introduction of innovations and improved forest management practices.