The Italian forestry legal system between public and private interests

Abstract

The Author underlines the increasing attention that Italian State laws are showing for the public role of forests. These have been initially considered for soil protection.More recently, the public role of forests has been expanded to include environmental aspects and biodiversity conservation. This is particularly evident in D.L. n. 227/2001 and D.L. n. 490/1999, as amended by D.L. n. 41 of January 22nd, 2004 within the new Code for Cultural and Environmental Assets. The Author remarks that the new role of the forest does not contradict management by private forest enterprises: private forest management is encouraged by recent laws, which are aimed at favouring association between owners so as to overcome forest property fragmentation which is so frequent in our country.