1 62 FORESTRY IN ITALY. 



In the provinces, in which woods are not by the existing laws placed under forest bounds 

 for reasons of public health, the commune or province that may demand tlie application of 

 forest bounds to such lands must suitably indemnify the proprietors. 



Art. 3. Lands properly levelled and kept levelled, or on which vines, olives, and other 

 shade or fruit trees are cultivated, are exempt from the provisions of the present law. 



Art. 4. On the lands designated in article l, all wood-clearing or tilling is forbidden. Per- 

 mission, nevertheless, will be granted to reduce them to cultivation in case the proprietors will 

 provide proper means for avoiding injurious consequences, and such means as are recognized as 

 efficacious by the forestal committee; the provincial sanitary committee being first consulted, 

 should it be necessary. 



Wood culture and wood-cutting are not placed under any prohibitory regulations. Proprie- 

 tors, however, must conform to such regulations as may be established by each forestal committee. 



Such regulations must be limited to the purpose of securing the firmness of the soil and the 

 reproduction of the woods, and, where further hygiene requires it, their preservation. 



Art. 5. In every province there is constituted a committee composed of the prefect of the 

 province, who will exercise the functions of president; of an inspector, and, in the absence of a 

 forestal sub-inspector, of an engineer, to be nominated by the minister of agriculture, industry, 

 and commerce ; and of three members nominated by the provincial council. 



The council of every commune of the province will nominate another member, who will 

 ■ take part, with the form of voting, in the labors of the committee in such matters only as have 

 reference to the commune which he represents. 



The engineer nominated by the minister, and the elective members of this committee, will 

 hold office for two years, and are eligible to re-election. 



Art. 6. Within six months from the publication of the present law, the forestal inspectors 

 will compile and present to the forestal committee a list by communes of the woods and lands 

 placed under the provisions of existing forestal laws and those that ought to be released from 

 forest bounds in accordance with the present law. 



The committee having examined, wherever it may be necessary, the condition of such woods 

 and lands, and having heard the provincial sanitary council so far as relates to the last clause 

 of article I , decides within six months upon the proposals and causes to be published contem- 

 poraneously in all the communes of the province tlie said lists. 



The removal of forest bounds takes place fifteen days after the publication of the lists. 



Art. 7. Upon the proposal of the forestal administration, of the communes and of the 

 provinces, the committee will proceed to the examination of the lands that may be in the con- 

 ditions referred to in article i of the present law in respect to water-courses and the consistency 

 of the soil, and that may not have been placed under forest bounds. 



After proper investigation the committee will decide upon proposals. 



The necessary expenses for investigations required by this article will be charged to the state. 



Art. 8. The forestal administration, as rapidly as the facts can be ascertained, will publish 

 in every commune of the province, lists of the woods and lands placed under the forest bounds 

 in such province. Any interested person may, within two years from the date of such publi- 

 cation, make application to the committee for the release of lands firom forest bounds. 



The committee, after having by due inquiry ascertained the condition of the woods or 

 lands, decides upon the application. 



The expenses of the inquiry will be charged to the proprietors interested. 



Art. 9. When in consequence of works of conservation or reparation recognized as sufli- 

 cient, or for any other reason, the causes for which any land has been placed under forest 

 bounds, cease to exist, the committee, either of its own accord or at the request of the persons 

 interested, will deliberate, after due inquriry into the facts, as to tlie release of the land from 

 forest bound. 



Art. 10. From the decision of the committee appeal may be made, by any one interested, 

 to the council of states, which, having heard the representations of tlie forestal council and, in 

 case of necessity, those of the councils of public works and health, and also Uiose of the 

 appellants, decides. 



