The Compossessorates in the Olt Land (Romania) as Sustainable Commons

Abstract

The compossessorates are traditional Transylvanian commons. They were disbanded during the Communist regime and re-established after 1989 according to the successive laws concerning land restitution. The current article highlights the importance of compossessorates in the Olt Land (in the south of Transylvania, Romania) as partners involved in projects focused on the sustainable development of the area. To this end, the paper presents the main features of contemporary Romanian commons, underlines the sustainable traditional orientation of compossessorates, and signals the latter’s difficulty in establishing relations with environmental protection-oriented NGOs, in this case Foundation Conservation Carpathia which focuses on establishing a national park in the area. Consequently, the methods employed to achieve all of the above was the thematic analysis of publications found in the Anelis+ databases which were considered relevant for the theme of Romanian commons, and the content analysis of some normative acts and compossessorates’ by-laws dating back to the first half of the 20th century. The information on the relations between the commons and NGOs were retrieved from the official websites of the organizations, and from the media. The article shows that current compossessorates have social potential and economic efficiency. Their existence in the Olt Land is significant from an identity-based perspective. The latter is built upon the common interest of law makers and locals to constructively manage the forestry fund and respect property rights. Their functioning can be made more efficient. Both these and the NGOs openly state their sustainable orientation and that could contribute to reducing the tensions between them through correct communication. Ignoring the compossessorates’ sustainable orientation and their community prestige could sabotage any sustainable local development project if they are not consulted and invited as partners.

The Potential for Sustainable Local Development through Digital Communication and Digitization of Intangible Cultural Heritage Resources in Făgăraș Land, Romania

“…The interest showed towards the locals at the time still echoes in the self-representation of their descendants. The dwellers of Făgăras , Land have a strong feeling of belonging and take pride in it [55]. The latter encapsulates all types of local resistance to the vicissitudes of history.…”

“…Făgăras , Land owns sufficient defining cultural features to be considered a cultural landscape [55]. In this context, unitary and coherent management of all digitized ICH resources of Făgăras , Land is a sustainable approach.…”

Glass Icons in Transylvania (Romania) and the Craft of Painting Them as Cultural Heritage Resources

“…One of the stakes of the resistance was the Soviet style cooperativisation of agriculture. The Făgăras , Land was one of the important centres of this resistance [32], the memory of which is still imprinted on the way of being of the locals [33] and their tenacity to keep the right to decide on the exploitation of their land [34,35].…”