Virtuous Legislation: The Royal Decree for the Sustainable Management of the Woods of Serra San Bruno, Stilo, Mongiana, and Ferdinandea
Keywords:
Economic History, Environmental History, History of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Economy of Southern Italy in the Nineteenth Century
Abstract
The extraction and processing of metals in the Calabrian Serre region have ancient origins, with Greek colonies utilizing local mines for tools and coins. The Normans later granted mines to Carthusian monks, enhancing military production. Ferdinand II's reign saw the peak of the Ferdinandea foundry, leading to its designation as a military colony. The region's steel complex became a European industrial hub.
In the 18th century, laws were enacted to balance industrial needs with environmental protection. The Salvaboschi Decree of 1773, issued by the Bourbons and King Ferdinand IV, aimed to protect the forest heritage by implementing forty-year cutting cycles. It regulated tree selection and cutting height to promote forest regeneration, representing a significant step towards sustainable forest management in the Calabrian Serre region.
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References
1. Fiorenza, E. (2019). Miniere e ferriere nel territorio dello Stilaro. Humanities, 8(15), 89-99.
2. Franco, D. (2003). Il ferro in Calabria. Reggio Calabria: Kaleidon. (p. 117)
3. Cunsolo, L. (1965). La storia di Stilo e del suo regio demanio. Roma: Gangemi Editore. (Nota a p. 354)
4. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (p. 19)
5. Tromby, P.D.B. (MDCCLXXV). Storia Critico-Cronologica Diplomatica del Patriarca San Bruno e del suo Ordine Cartusiano, Napoli, tomo II, appendice p. LXXIII. "Diploma Donationis Monsterii, ac praediorum S. Mariae de Arfafia pro Dotatione S. Mariae de Turri a Comite Rogerio, tempore Dedicationis ejusdem Ecclesiae facta in Calabritana Eremo S. Brunonis. Ad. ann. 1094. hujus Tom.II, num. CLX."
6. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (p. 22).
7. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino editore. (p. 76, nota 2).
8. Ciccolella, D. (2012). Hommes de guerre, hommes d’affaires. Filangieri, Nunziante e la politica doganale nel Regno delle Due Sicilie dopo il 1824. Storia Economica, XV (2), 411. Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane.
9. Fiorenza, E. (2023). Dalle vecchie ferriere di Stilo alla Ferdinandea: Storia, economia e produzione nelle serre calabre. Il Risparmio, 3, 51-79.
10. The Arms Factory, constructed in 1852 as part of the Mongiana steel complex, was pivotal in the arms industry of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Initially designed by architect Domenico F. Savino, it replaced a previous structure built during French rule in Calabria for rifle barrel production. Throughout its operation, it annually supplied the Bourbon army with a substantial quantity of weapons, ranging from 2000-3000 units during regular periods to 7000-8000 during peak activity. It manufactured rifles, pistols, and swords, showcasing versatility. Notably, it introduced the innovative "Mongiana" back-spring rifle design, replacing the French model of 1842. Despite its significant contribution to Bourbon defense, it declined post-Italian Unification, eventually closing its doors in the mid-1860s, highlighting the evolution and decline of an important industrial institution in post-Unitarian Italy. See Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (pp. 85-91).
11. Fiorenza, E. (2023). La creazione del villaggio siderurgico di Mongiana: I segni del lavoro. Humanities, 12(23), 68-69.
12. De Cesare, R. (2003). La fine di un Regno. Franco Di Mauro Editore, Sorrento. (p. 54).
13. Fiorenza, E. (2023). A virtuous form of work organization: the regulation of Pazzano of 1845. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 27(Special Issue 4), 1-12.
14. In the Ferdinandea context, the workforce consisted solely of adult individuals, with no child or female labor. This unique practice set it apart from other European steel centers of the time. Similar conditions were observed in the "Royal Silk Colony of San Leucio" in Caserta, reflecting an exclusive work model unique to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies; see: M. R. Iacono, The history of the site, in The Beauty of Seeing San Leucio and the Royal Manufactures, Napoli, ESI 1998, pp.77-102.
15. Of Spanish origin, Giovan Francesco Conty served as director from 1771 to 1790 and designed the first ironworks complex in Mongiana, which became operational in 1768.
16. The Salvaboschi Decree, issued in 1773 by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, also known as Ferdinand III of Sicily, represented a significant early initiative for the conservation of the territory and the protection of forests in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily (followed later by Ferdinand II's Royal Decree of December 20, 1858). The decree aimed primarily at conserving the forest heritage by introducing specific measures to prevent excessive damage. One of the key provisions was the adoption of cutting cycles every fortieth year, using the practice of marking. This meant that only one tree could be felled out of every forty, and the chosen tree for cutting had to be the oldest among those surrounding it. This policy aimed to ensure the sustainability of forest management and to prevent excessive deforestation.
17. Today's environmental laws are more comprehensive than those of the past, reflecting a shift towards holistic protection. While the Salvaboschi Decree of the 18th century focused on regulating tree cutting for sustainable management, modern regulations encompass broader environmental concerns. They prioritize safeguarding forest ecosystems for their role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and maintaining air and water quality, in addition to timber resources. Contemporary laws also embrace sustainable development principles, involving local communities, promoting reforestation, and considering the environmental impacts of industrial activities. This regulatory evolution signifies a transition towards prioritizing the long-term well-being of the environment and society over short-term economic gains. However, challenges like illegal deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss highlight the ongoing need to strengthen and refine environmental laws to address current and future issues.
18. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 98.
19. BNN, 63/1 - Memory on the Mongiana Establishment made by Captain Settimo by order of Mr. Major Sappel, Artillery Commander in Calabria. (n.d.). National Library of Naples (BNN), Manuscripts Section, Ms. 63/1.
20. (BSNSP) - In the decree issued in Persano on January 16, 1811, Murat, following the proposal of the Ministry of War, appointed members of the commission with specific duties: the Director of the Ironworks and Mines of Calabria Ulterior Seconda, Battalion Chief of Artillery V. Ritucci, designated as President, V. Raimondini (Mineralogist - absent for health reasons), G. Melograni (Inspector of Waters and Forests), and T. Paolotti (Engineer of Bridges and Roads). Murat's particular attention to the problem of afforestation emerges on more than one occasion: he exerted pressure on the Minister of Finance for the enactment of a comprehensive forestry law valid throughout the national territory. Reference is made to a letter dated March 18, 1809, sent by the Minister to Poerio and preserved in Ms. XXX A 8 of the Biblioteca Società Napoletana di Storia Patria (BSNSP): "The woods and forests are of particular concern to the King, who has ordered me to present him with a project for forestry organization." As a result of discussions held at the Council of State regarding this draft law, the Administration of Waters and Forests was established, and the Forest Rangers Corps was created. For further details, see: A. Valente: G. Murat and Southern Italy, Turin 1976.
21. BNN, Ms. 63/1. The Carbonile, around 1810, measured 180x60 palmi and was divided into six compartments. National Library of Naples (hereafter: BNN), manuscripts section Ms. 63/1.
22. National Library of Naples, Manuscripts Section, Ms 63/7. According to the summary table of the current condition of Mongiana in relation to the requests made by His Excellency the Ministry of War and the Navy «[...] with which an attempt is made to ascertain how long this establishment will be able to supply 60 thousand cantara of projectiles to meet the pressing needs of the service [...]».
23. (Ms 63/12, BNN) - Administrative Memorandum Budjet for 1814. National Library of Naples manuscripts section Ms 63/12."
24. (BNN, Ms 63/10) - The comparison is made between the price set for beech charcoal production and for wood splitting in the century-old forests independent of tall trees intended for the service of the Mongiana ironworks. See BNN Manuscripts Section Ms 63/10.
25. The introduction of severe and specific penalties underscores the firm determination of the military authorities to preserve the environmental integrity and sustainability of the forest resource. The sanctions aim to discourage harmful, fraudulent, or negligent practices that could compromise the health of the forest and proper forest management. The coercive dimension of the measures reflects the need to balance economic interests with responsible conservation of natural resources.
26. Ritucci, V. (1819). [Letter to Mr. Mar.llo di Campo Macry, General Director of Artillery]. Archivio di Stato sezione militare Napoli (ASMN), Pizzofalcone Ms 25/31819 prot. 486.
27. ASMN, 1811. Ten. Colonnello di Art. (1811, January 4). [Letter to Mar/llo di Campo Macry, General Director of Train Corps]. ASMN Pizzofalcone, Comando Artiglieria fascio 28. From Mongiana.
28. ASMN, 27 - Ritucci, V. (Senza data). [Letter to the Mongiana Administration]. ASMN Pizzofalcone, Comando Artiglieria fascio 27.
29. Strati, S. (1960). A mani vuote. Mondadori.
30. The measurement of forests was expressed in terms of "moggio," where the moggio comprised nine hundred square steps, equivalent to seven palms and one-third each.
31. Art. 44 of Law No. 967 decreed: "The Government hammers shall be kept in a case with two keys, one to be held by the senior official of the civil administration residing in the Municipality, and the other by the Forest Inspector, or by the General Guard in the absence of the Inspector. The hammer cannot be removed without first drawing up a report, which shall be signed by the officials and the agent to whom it will be assigned. The report shall mention the purpose for which it is to be used and the instructions received on the matter from the General Directorate." For the forest regulations of 1859, see: Regulation... in the Appendix.
32. Archivio di Stato Catanzaro (ASCZ). (n.d.). Mongiana fascio 37. Regarding fires, Law No. 967 warned: "If a fire breaks out in a forest, the guards responsible for guarding the forest and the rural guards shall be required to notify the Mayors of the neighboring Municipalities, under penalty of dismissal, in addition to any penalties incurred by law. The Mayors shall convene the inhabitants at the sound of the bells, so that, provided with hoes, axes, and shovels, they may come to the aid as needed."
33. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino.
34. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 306).
35. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (pp. 306-307).
36. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 303).
37. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 109.
38. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 110.
39. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 303). Bosco S. Maria or S. Miceli: located in the municipal territory of Serra S. Bruno and adjacent to the road that ascended from Mount Cucco to Mongiana. The forest was 10 kilometers away from the ironworks. The surface area was easily calculable at 1300 hectares; few clearings, with 90% of the dominant species being silver fir, and the remainder beech. It supplied timber to the state sawmills and to the Mongiana sawmill located on the National Road; Bosco di Archiforo and Bosco Chiudilli: located in the territory of Serra and adjacent to the previous one; in 1832-34, much of it had been assigned to the Municipalities of Serra and Spadola. The remaining state-owned part was about 500 hectares of dense beech forest, in addition to numerous extensions of spruces, hollies, and heathers; Bosco di Stilo: the 1858 statistics estimated the total surface area of the state-owned part at 4862 hectares. According to other estimates, it would have been more than 5400 hectares, of which at least 4300 were densely populated forest. Beeches accounted for 70%, with the remainder being Scots pines, oaks, yews, maples, and other less significant species. It supplied all the material to Ferdinandea and the mines of Pazzano; Bosco Lacina: adjacent to an ancient lake basin, in the territory of Brognaturo and north of Ferdinandea. 25 kilometers away from Mongiana. Its 170 hectares of beech forest were used as a reserve and rarely for charcoal production due to their distance; Boscarello: in the territory of Brognaturo and adjacent to Lacina. Average distance from Mongiana was 17 kilometers; surface area of 170 hectares dominated by beech and spruce. It was rarely used for charcoal production, and its timber was processed in the local sawmills. Bosco Fillò: in the municipal territory of Serra with the eastern part adjacent to the road to Mongiana. In this forest, the Neapolitan Navy carried out continuous logging for its ships. The dominant species is silver fir. The climate and particular exposure mean that even today, the trees grow there reaching sizes much larger than average. In the Chiuselli area, there are still specimens of the rare larch pine imported by Thomas; Bosco di Dinami: in the homonymous municipality and southwest of Mongiana. Estimated surface area of 300 hectares of beech forest in addition to the presence of some alder clearings.
40. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 305).
41. Mazza, P.F. (2021). L’ecomuseo delle ferriere e fonderie di Calabria, in Quaderni 17: Il Paesaggio nel rapporto città-campagna, Gattatico, Istituto Alcide Cervi, p. 327. In 1875, the entire industrial heritage was subject to a public auction in Catanzaro, where it was purchased by the former Garibaldian and Calabrian patriot Achille Fazzari. In 1881, Fazzari proceeded to reactivate the old mines, opening new ones named Umberto I, Regina Margherita, and Garibaldi. At the same time, he restarted the steel plants and improved the communication network with local ports. In 1885, he constructed significant infrastructure, including a railway, a cableway, and Calabria's first hydroelectric power plant. However, in the same year, the absence of commissions from the government forced Fazzari to permanently close the plants.
42. Regione Calabria U.O.A. “Politiche della Montagna, Foreste e Forestazione, Difesa del suolo”. (n.d.). Albo imprese forestali regolamento n. 8/2015 aggiornato al 29/06/2023, categoria A. Mongiana, Italy: Author.
2. Franco, D. (2003). Il ferro in Calabria. Reggio Calabria: Kaleidon. (p. 117)
3. Cunsolo, L. (1965). La storia di Stilo e del suo regio demanio. Roma: Gangemi Editore. (Nota a p. 354)
4. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (p. 19)
5. Tromby, P.D.B. (MDCCLXXV). Storia Critico-Cronologica Diplomatica del Patriarca San Bruno e del suo Ordine Cartusiano, Napoli, tomo II, appendice p. LXXIII. "Diploma Donationis Monsterii, ac praediorum S. Mariae de Arfafia pro Dotatione S. Mariae de Turri a Comite Rogerio, tempore Dedicationis ejusdem Ecclesiae facta in Calabritana Eremo S. Brunonis. Ad. ann. 1094. hujus Tom.II, num. CLX."
6. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (p. 22).
7. Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino editore. (p. 76, nota 2).
8. Ciccolella, D. (2012). Hommes de guerre, hommes d’affaires. Filangieri, Nunziante e la politica doganale nel Regno delle Due Sicilie dopo il 1824. Storia Economica, XV (2), 411. Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane.
9. Fiorenza, E. (2023). Dalle vecchie ferriere di Stilo alla Ferdinandea: Storia, economia e produzione nelle serre calabre. Il Risparmio, 3, 51-79.
10. The Arms Factory, constructed in 1852 as part of the Mongiana steel complex, was pivotal in the arms industry of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Initially designed by architect Domenico F. Savino, it replaced a previous structure built during French rule in Calabria for rifle barrel production. Throughout its operation, it annually supplied the Bourbon army with a substantial quantity of weapons, ranging from 2000-3000 units during regular periods to 7000-8000 during peak activity. It manufactured rifles, pistols, and swords, showcasing versatility. Notably, it introduced the innovative "Mongiana" back-spring rifle design, replacing the French model of 1842. Despite its significant contribution to Bourbon defense, it declined post-Italian Unification, eventually closing its doors in the mid-1860s, highlighting the evolution and decline of an important industrial institution in post-Unitarian Italy. See Franco, D. (2019). Le Reali Fabbriche del Ferro in Calabria: Tra storia e archeologia industriale. Rubbettino Editore. (pp. 85-91).
11. Fiorenza, E. (2023). La creazione del villaggio siderurgico di Mongiana: I segni del lavoro. Humanities, 12(23), 68-69.
12. De Cesare, R. (2003). La fine di un Regno. Franco Di Mauro Editore, Sorrento. (p. 54).
13. Fiorenza, E. (2023). A virtuous form of work organization: the regulation of Pazzano of 1845. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 27(Special Issue 4), 1-12.
14. In the Ferdinandea context, the workforce consisted solely of adult individuals, with no child or female labor. This unique practice set it apart from other European steel centers of the time. Similar conditions were observed in the "Royal Silk Colony of San Leucio" in Caserta, reflecting an exclusive work model unique to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies; see: M. R. Iacono, The history of the site, in The Beauty of Seeing San Leucio and the Royal Manufactures, Napoli, ESI 1998, pp.77-102.
15. Of Spanish origin, Giovan Francesco Conty served as director from 1771 to 1790 and designed the first ironworks complex in Mongiana, which became operational in 1768.
16. The Salvaboschi Decree, issued in 1773 by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, also known as Ferdinand III of Sicily, represented a significant early initiative for the conservation of the territory and the protection of forests in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily (followed later by Ferdinand II's Royal Decree of December 20, 1858). The decree aimed primarily at conserving the forest heritage by introducing specific measures to prevent excessive damage. One of the key provisions was the adoption of cutting cycles every fortieth year, using the practice of marking. This meant that only one tree could be felled out of every forty, and the chosen tree for cutting had to be the oldest among those surrounding it. This policy aimed to ensure the sustainability of forest management and to prevent excessive deforestation.
17. Today's environmental laws are more comprehensive than those of the past, reflecting a shift towards holistic protection. While the Salvaboschi Decree of the 18th century focused on regulating tree cutting for sustainable management, modern regulations encompass broader environmental concerns. They prioritize safeguarding forest ecosystems for their role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and maintaining air and water quality, in addition to timber resources. Contemporary laws also embrace sustainable development principles, involving local communities, promoting reforestation, and considering the environmental impacts of industrial activities. This regulatory evolution signifies a transition towards prioritizing the long-term well-being of the environment and society over short-term economic gains. However, challenges like illegal deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss highlight the ongoing need to strengthen and refine environmental laws to address current and future issues.
18. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 98.
19. BNN, 63/1 - Memory on the Mongiana Establishment made by Captain Settimo by order of Mr. Major Sappel, Artillery Commander in Calabria. (n.d.). National Library of Naples (BNN), Manuscripts Section, Ms. 63/1.
20. (BSNSP) - In the decree issued in Persano on January 16, 1811, Murat, following the proposal of the Ministry of War, appointed members of the commission with specific duties: the Director of the Ironworks and Mines of Calabria Ulterior Seconda, Battalion Chief of Artillery V. Ritucci, designated as President, V. Raimondini (Mineralogist - absent for health reasons), G. Melograni (Inspector of Waters and Forests), and T. Paolotti (Engineer of Bridges and Roads). Murat's particular attention to the problem of afforestation emerges on more than one occasion: he exerted pressure on the Minister of Finance for the enactment of a comprehensive forestry law valid throughout the national territory. Reference is made to a letter dated March 18, 1809, sent by the Minister to Poerio and preserved in Ms. XXX A 8 of the Biblioteca Società Napoletana di Storia Patria (BSNSP): "The woods and forests are of particular concern to the King, who has ordered me to present him with a project for forestry organization." As a result of discussions held at the Council of State regarding this draft law, the Administration of Waters and Forests was established, and the Forest Rangers Corps was created. For further details, see: A. Valente: G. Murat and Southern Italy, Turin 1976.
21. BNN, Ms. 63/1. The Carbonile, around 1810, measured 180x60 palmi and was divided into six compartments. National Library of Naples (hereafter: BNN), manuscripts section Ms. 63/1.
22. National Library of Naples, Manuscripts Section, Ms 63/7. According to the summary table of the current condition of Mongiana in relation to the requests made by His Excellency the Ministry of War and the Navy «[...] with which an attempt is made to ascertain how long this establishment will be able to supply 60 thousand cantara of projectiles to meet the pressing needs of the service [...]».
23. (Ms 63/12, BNN) - Administrative Memorandum Budjet for 1814. National Library of Naples manuscripts section Ms 63/12."
24. (BNN, Ms 63/10) - The comparison is made between the price set for beech charcoal production and for wood splitting in the century-old forests independent of tall trees intended for the service of the Mongiana ironworks. See BNN Manuscripts Section Ms 63/10.
25. The introduction of severe and specific penalties underscores the firm determination of the military authorities to preserve the environmental integrity and sustainability of the forest resource. The sanctions aim to discourage harmful, fraudulent, or negligent practices that could compromise the health of the forest and proper forest management. The coercive dimension of the measures reflects the need to balance economic interests with responsible conservation of natural resources.
26. Ritucci, V. (1819). [Letter to Mr. Mar.llo di Campo Macry, General Director of Artillery]. Archivio di Stato sezione militare Napoli (ASMN), Pizzofalcone Ms 25/31819 prot. 486.
27. ASMN, 1811. Ten. Colonnello di Art. (1811, January 4). [Letter to Mar/llo di Campo Macry, General Director of Train Corps]. ASMN Pizzofalcone, Comando Artiglieria fascio 28. From Mongiana.
28. ASMN, 27 - Ritucci, V. (Senza data). [Letter to the Mongiana Administration]. ASMN Pizzofalcone, Comando Artiglieria fascio 27.
29. Strati, S. (1960). A mani vuote. Mondadori.
30. The measurement of forests was expressed in terms of "moggio," where the moggio comprised nine hundred square steps, equivalent to seven palms and one-third each.
31. Art. 44 of Law No. 967 decreed: "The Government hammers shall be kept in a case with two keys, one to be held by the senior official of the civil administration residing in the Municipality, and the other by the Forest Inspector, or by the General Guard in the absence of the Inspector. The hammer cannot be removed without first drawing up a report, which shall be signed by the officials and the agent to whom it will be assigned. The report shall mention the purpose for which it is to be used and the instructions received on the matter from the General Directorate." For the forest regulations of 1859, see: Regulation... in the Appendix.
32. Archivio di Stato Catanzaro (ASCZ). (n.d.). Mongiana fascio 37. Regarding fires, Law No. 967 warned: "If a fire breaks out in a forest, the guards responsible for guarding the forest and the rural guards shall be required to notify the Mayors of the neighboring Municipalities, under penalty of dismissal, in addition to any penalties incurred by law. The Mayors shall convene the inhabitants at the sound of the bells, so that, provided with hoes, axes, and shovels, they may come to the aid as needed."
33. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino.
34. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 306).
35. Giordano, F. (1864). Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (pp. 306-307).
36. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 303).
37. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 109.
38. De Stefano Manno, B., & Matacena, G. (1979). Le Reali Ferriere ed Officine di Mongiana, una scoperta di Archeologia industriale: storia, condizione operaia, tecnologie di produzione, trasformazione del territorio, architettura delle più antiche ed importanti fonderie del Regno delle Due Sicilie. Storia di Napoli e della Sicilia, Società Editrice, Napoli, 110.
39. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 303). Bosco S. Maria or S. Miceli: located in the municipal territory of Serra S. Bruno and adjacent to the road that ascended from Mount Cucco to Mongiana. The forest was 10 kilometers away from the ironworks. The surface area was easily calculable at 1300 hectares; few clearings, with 90% of the dominant species being silver fir, and the remainder beech. It supplied timber to the state sawmills and to the Mongiana sawmill located on the National Road; Bosco di Archiforo and Bosco Chiudilli: located in the territory of Serra and adjacent to the previous one; in 1832-34, much of it had been assigned to the Municipalities of Serra and Spadola. The remaining state-owned part was about 500 hectares of dense beech forest, in addition to numerous extensions of spruces, hollies, and heathers; Bosco di Stilo: the 1858 statistics estimated the total surface area of the state-owned part at 4862 hectares. According to other estimates, it would have been more than 5400 hectares, of which at least 4300 were densely populated forest. Beeches accounted for 70%, with the remainder being Scots pines, oaks, yews, maples, and other less significant species. It supplied all the material to Ferdinandea and the mines of Pazzano; Bosco Lacina: adjacent to an ancient lake basin, in the territory of Brognaturo and north of Ferdinandea. 25 kilometers away from Mongiana. Its 170 hectares of beech forest were used as a reserve and rarely for charcoal production due to their distance; Boscarello: in the territory of Brognaturo and adjacent to Lacina. Average distance from Mongiana was 17 kilometers; surface area of 170 hectares dominated by beech and spruce. It was rarely used for charcoal production, and its timber was processed in the local sawmills. Bosco Fillò: in the municipal territory of Serra with the eastern part adjacent to the road to Mongiana. In this forest, the Neapolitan Navy carried out continuous logging for its ships. The dominant species is silver fir. The climate and particular exposure mean that even today, the trees grow there reaching sizes much larger than average. In the Chiuselli area, there are still specimens of the rare larch pine imported by Thomas; Bosco di Dinami: in the homonymous municipality and southwest of Mongiana. Estimated surface area of 300 hectares of beech forest in addition to the presence of some alder clearings.
40. Giordano, F. (1864) Industria del ferro in Italia. Relazione dell’ingegnere Felice Giordano, per la Commissione delle Ferriere istituita dal Ministero di Marina. Torino: Tipografia Gotta e Cappellino. (p. 305).
41. Mazza, P.F. (2021). L’ecomuseo delle ferriere e fonderie di Calabria, in Quaderni 17: Il Paesaggio nel rapporto città-campagna, Gattatico, Istituto Alcide Cervi, p. 327. In 1875, the entire industrial heritage was subject to a public auction in Catanzaro, where it was purchased by the former Garibaldian and Calabrian patriot Achille Fazzari. In 1881, Fazzari proceeded to reactivate the old mines, opening new ones named Umberto I, Regina Margherita, and Garibaldi. At the same time, he restarted the steel plants and improved the communication network with local ports. In 1885, he constructed significant infrastructure, including a railway, a cableway, and Calabria's first hydroelectric power plant. However, in the same year, the absence of commissions from the government forced Fazzari to permanently close the plants.
42. Regione Calabria U.O.A. “Politiche della Montagna, Foreste e Forestazione, Difesa del suolo”. (n.d.). Albo imprese forestali regolamento n. 8/2015 aggiornato al 29/06/2023, categoria A. Mongiana, Italy: Author.
Published
2024-05-10
How to Cite
Ghezzi, R., & Fiorenza, E. (2024). Virtuous Legislation: The Royal Decree for the Sustainable Management of the Woods of Serra San Bruno, Stilo, Mongiana, and Ferdinandea. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 29, 15. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/18117
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2024 Renato Ghezzi, Elia Fiorenza
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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