COMMUNAL LANDS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWESTERN IBERIAN PENINSULA

Abstract

Communal lands occupy about one million hectares in the northwest IberianPeninsula with high average areas (500 hectares in Portugal and 200 in Galicia).The region is among the poorest in the European Union with a notably lower grossdomestic product in comparison with the most developed regions of Europe. Overcenturies, ‘Baldios’ in Portugal and ‘Montes Veciñais en Man Común’ (MVMC) inGalicia played an essential role in the rural economy of their owner’s communities.They were mainly used in forestry, but several reasons resulted in a current subutilizationof them. This role was lost during the twentieth century due to greatreforestation and a decline in agriculture prominence. The restoration ofdemocratic regimes returned Baldios and MVMC to their owners, now declining,aging and disorganized. Taking into account the extension of these lands and theiraverage size, this paper looks into the main historical determinants of the commonsexistence and tries to illustrate their present-day with reference to the collectiveaction problem; features related to the commoners’ (‘veciños’ and ‘compartes’)characteristics and to the way they use their lands are analysed. Both Galician andPortuguese realities exhibit similarities and complementary benefits requiringsocial innovation to make better use of rural resilience. Communal lands and smallscalebusiness initiatives could support the network of the local produce marketswith attractive values, and also the conservation of the biodiversity. These data arediscussed focusing at the human and natural resources.