Forestry Preservation Policy: Evidences from the Case Study of Lazio Region,Italy

With the Regional Law 43/1974 (Provisions for the Protection and Development of Forests), the Lazio region of Italy has imposed a severe ban on the silvicultural management of some forest areas, even if they were located outside of protected areas. Regional legislators assumed that doing so would increase the capacity of forests to provide goods and services and it would create new natural forests. Over 30 yr after the adoption of R.L. 43/1974, this forest preservationist policy has been analyzed. The study involves a sample of sites under the 43/1974 regime, representative of the Lazio forest heritage. Through questionnaires submitted to forest owners and a multidisciplinary panel, a matrix of effectiveness valuation has been built. Three aspects were investigated: (a) the management of forest farms, (b) the state of the forests, and (c) the effects on multifunctional forestry. Recommendations are presented in the Conclusion section if, in the future, regional policymakers would like to come up to use again forestry preservation policy.