Experiences of rural development in a lag of the Ligurian Apennines : participatory forest management

The decennial experience in territorial and forest management in the Apennines areas provides indications for the land planning and reflect over opportunity to develop the short chain forest-territories. The integrated management of the activities has made possible an articulated collaboration between the different actors of the short chain: wood owners, farmers, inhabitants, timber companies, local administrators, the technicians. The activities of Consorzio Forestale (Forest Consortium) – which is a mixed business with private prevalence – are explicated: energy implementation (district heating plants), forest planning and management (SFM and CoC certification by PEFC scheme and Natura 2000), timber valorizations (new manufactured products and green procurement GPP) land maintenance, forest mechanization improvement and forest service companies. Activities tested in the Apennines with a good degree of transferability might provide a new approach to participatory management of forests and the countryside with respect for the multitude of the very small private forest owners and benefit for community.