Aspects of Romanian forestry: the case for community forest management in the Piatra Craiului Massif

Forests, Trees & Livelihoods Vol. 12 (4) 2002 In Romania human pressure on forest resources and fiscal constraints are making it increasingly difficult for the Romanian Forestry Commission to control and protect the forests. National democratisation and decentralisation have fuelled demands by forest inhabitants and local communities for their rights to the land to be restored and for the opportunity to re-engage as forest managers. This paper makes recommendations for pursuing such community management in Romania. Using the Piatra Craiului massif as an example, it proposes that where private forests have been restituted, a community forest management programme be employed and implemented nationally in order to improve the incomes and welfare of rural dwellers