340 Italy. 



administration consists of a central bureau with one 

 Inspector General, three Inspectors, and a Council. 

 For each province, and in some cases for two or more 

 provinces together, an Inspector with several Sub- 

 inspectors and a number of guards or brigadieri are 

 charged with the management of the State property 

 and the enforcement of the forest laws. 



2. Development of Forest Policy. 



For centuries, since the fall of the Roman Empire 

 (476 A.D.) until the end of the eighteenth century, 

 Italy has been the victim of war and strife with neigh- 

 bors or within its borders, being divided into number- 

 less commonwealths, almost each city being inde- 

 pendent. Hence, no economic improvements could 

 take place until, under the influences of the French 

 Revolution, the regeneration period began. Not, 

 however, until the seven or eight states, which the 

 Congress of Vienna (1815) had established, were 

 moulded into one united Italy under Victor Em- 

 manuel, during the years 1859 to 1870, could an effec- 

 tive reconstruction be inaugurated. 



It is true that some of the republics in earlier times 

 paid attention to their forest property. Notably in 

 Venice, old forest ordinances* date back to 697, and, 

 in 1453, a regular forest administration was instituted, 

 especially to take care of the large forest area in 

 Istria and Dalmatia, which fell into the hands of the 

 Venetians about 1420. A tolerably conservative 

 management continued here until the beginning of 



Berenger, Sag-gio storico della legislacione Veneta forestale, 1863, An ex- 

 cellent source. 



