General Direction of mountain economy and forests: the first five years of activity

With the incorporation of the State Forest Corps into the Carabinieri Corps and the establishment at the Ministry of Agriculture of the “General Direction of Forests” in November 2017, later renamed “General Direction of Mountain Economy and Forests” (DIFOR), many things have changed in the national and regional forestry sector, as forestry has been gradually given a new political and institutional status. DIFOR has initiated an unprecedented process of dialogue and discussion with the different institutions pertaining in the field, as well as the main stakeholders of the sector and the civil society. During the first five years of the Direction’s activity, efforts have been made to overcome the institutional inaction which was characterizing the former periods, by implementating an important and long-awaited regulatory reform of the national forestry sector (Legislative Decree no. 34 of 2018 - TUFF), defining a National Forestry Strategy (SFN) and establishing specific funds for priority issues in the forestry sector. Above all, many controversial issues were addressed through the TUFF enforcement decrees, and in the acts and actions of DIFOR as well, strengthening its role of national leadership and coordination in the regional application of the constitutional principles; hence, an unparalleled reform plan has taken place. This document reviews the work carried out and the operational implications which have arisen from its implementation, setting a new path for the development of the Italian forestry sector.