Regole d'Ampezzo by Regole d'Ampezzo

The collective ownership in the Ampezzo Dolomites

ow to live and live together, the understanding and practising of political, economical, and social relationships, has evolved for the Ampezzani people through centuries of experience. Unfortunately, experience is a heritage that can neither be transferred nor reproduced synthetically.

Pasture cleaning activities at Federa

Indro Montanelli

(from Foreword to the Storia di Cortina d’Ampezzo)

nd the very solidarity which is the foundation of collective ownership might be once more the life preserver of the Mountain: that total involvement of the people in the destiny of the territory on which and with which they live may be the new remedy, though ancient in its inspiring principles, for the ills of progress. Spring activities of pasture cleaning

Ivone Cacciavillani

(from La Proprietà collettiva nella montagna veneta sotto la Serenissima - The Collective Ownership on the Veneto mountains under the Venitian republic).

An alternative form of ownership

Vicinie, regole, partecipanze, consorterie are only some of the names given to the diverse systems of collective ownership that still survive throughout Europe. In Cortina, where forests and pastures have been the collective property of the original community for centuries, the system is known as Regole dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo (Rules of Ampezzo). The collective ownership and use of forests and pastures was for long the main source of sustenance for the Ampezzani people (or people of Ampezzo): it regulated their relationship to the environment and ensured the sustainable use of the natural territory of the valley. This ancient system of rules stipulated collective rights of management and enjoyment of the natural, cultural, and economic heritage. A collective heritage, in which conservation and production converge, and which must be passed down to future generations. Lands cannot be sold, nor can their intended use be changed. The origin of the Regole dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo can be traced back to the first settlers of the valley with their need for a collective management and use of forests and pastures. The hardships of living in a mountain environment favoured the collective and undivided use of the territory. Originally there were two Regole, namely Ambrizola-Falzarego and Larieto. They have grown in number and today there are eleven Regole which hold the property in common. Regolieri, the family heads descending from the original Ampezzo inhabitants, manage the community heritage in accordance with the Laudi, the ancient rules approved by the assembly of family heads. The Regole currently manage about 16,000 ha of forests, with tree cutting and wood selling activities and natural sylviculture of the forests. A few shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huts are still used for pasturing activities, so that they An ancient parchment of the Ampezzo Regole help preserving their original function which has decreased considerably in recent times. The Regole see as their scope the conservation and the promotion of the language, the culture and the traditions of the Ampezzo valley. The institution is recognized by the Italian State through specific laws especially made in order to preserve its special nature. Since 1990 the Regole have also been managing the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites. 3

A Drawing of the Botestagno Fortress

The origins

For a long time, the collective heritage of forests and pastures had been the main source of sustenance for the people living in the mountains. The collective ownership of lands was born with the first inhabitants of the valley, likely some Celtic tribes who used pastures in common. The Romans considered the pastures as belonging to the masi (farms) of the valley and called them compascua pro indiviso: i.e.pastures were private property of the community. The institution of the Regole achieved a firm basis after the Lombard invasions It was the Longobards who introduced (from 578 AD) the fundamental concept of family property, that is still alive today. Lands were considered as granted by the State to the family and had to remain undivided; if a family had no heirs, their land went back to the tribe. This is how the idea that pastures were the collective property of the original Consorti was introduced and the Regole became a closed community. Under the rule of the Franks (from 774) Cadore became a county and was divided into ten rural communities called centene. As a consequence, Ampezzo became an independent district and remained such until 1511. Frank Feudalism did not affect the institutions already existing in the area, since Feudal Lords showed no interest in the exploitation of mountain territories. In 1235, count Da Camino, feudatory of Cadore, issued the earliest Statutes, which ratified local customs and officially acknowledged the Regole. At first, the «mountain» Regole – called «High» today to distinguish them from the «Low» ones - were created for the common management of high pastures. The earliest recorded Regola is the Regola of Lerosa and Travenanzes or Vinigo (1225); the Regola of Falzarego (1238), Lareto (1317), and Ambrizola followed.

The Consorti of Falzarego joined up with those of Ciostego as early as 1318 and in 1377 with those from Ambrizola; in 1331 the Consorti of Ciasadiò federated with those of Lareto. As a result three large groups were formed: Ambrizola with its pastures on the orographic right of the Boite river, Lareto on its left, and the Consorti of Vinigo in the Felizon valley. In 1337, after Rizzardo Da Camino died without heir, Cadore became an Independent Rural Municipality. In 1338, the representatives of the centene drew up a Statute, which remained in force till the Napoleonic period; this statute recognised each single Regola. The 1338 Statuto Cadorino granted the full ownership of the forests to the original communities. Hence, Ampezzo forests were private and undivided property of the Ampezzani people. The forests were managed by the Community of Ampezzo, originally the Regola of the valley floor. The earliest «vize» date back to the 14th centuries; «vize» are the forests where the Regole or the Community of Ampezzo would forbid treecutting and pasturing for a number of years: a sort of «integral natural reserve» ahead of times. During this period of independent rule (1347-1420), the Regole consolidated and the earliest Laudi - written sets of rules – were issued: the Laudo of the Regola d’Ambrizola dates back to 1331-33; the Laudo of the Regola of Lareto to 1363. In 1412, during the war between King Sigismund and Venice, some Regolieri from Vinigo, - then owners of Ospitale and the Felizon valley– were taken prisoners by the Tyrolean troops. In order to obtain the sum needed to free their Consorti, the Regolieri of Vinigo sold the pastures of Ospitale, Lerosa, and Travenanzes to the Regolieri of Lareto. In 1420 Venice occupied the whole Friuli area. The 1338 Statutes, however, were confirmed so that Cadore was able to maintain its constitution, privileges and rules intact, the only thing that changed being the protectorate.

Statute of Cadore

The Statute helped the Vicar, or, in his absence, the Captain of the Fortress of Botestagno, a fortress lying to the north of Cortina, to administer justice. The Magnifica Comunità would use it as well. The original manuscript dates back to 1338 and consists of three volumes, with a total of 130 parchments. The first volume deals with the election of the Community Council, the Vicar and the Officers, the members to be appointed annually, as well as all the relevant procedures. The second volume deals with legal regulations and civil proceedings, including heritage, dowry, preservation, securities, debts, and forest properties. The third volume deals with law and penal proceedings, with relating sentences. Some further material was subsequently added: in 1354, a text to regulate timber trade; in 1398, tariffs on religious ceremonies (baptisms, burials, Masses). From 1445 to 1478, several updates were added, dealing with: the «Consiglio del Cadore», amendments to some punishments or fines, the defence against foreigners, defence and protection of the timber trade, other tariffs on the Masses and on the liturgical year, the institution of the «First instance in every centena». The Statute served to regulate public and private activities until the end of 1700s. After the Napoleonic period and the return of Ampezzo territories under the Austrian House (1814), the Statute was no longer used since it was replaced by the Austrian law.Some notaries from Cadore translated the text from Latin into Italian and in 1664 the Cadore Community had some copies printed in Venice.

The Venetian Period

The ninety years under the rule of Venice (until 1511) were marked by long and expensive trials over grazing rights between the two most important Regole - the «high» ones of Lareto and Ambrizola -, by disagreement with the captain of Botestagno, by endless disputes over the borders with Marebbe, by violations of the rights of joint ownership of the pastures caused by several sales contrary to customary rules. Nonetheless, the Regole succeeded in strengthening their position by removing all violations and updating the Laudi. During the Venitian rule, the so called «low» Regole were created for a better management of dairy cattle pastures. These associations occupied, at the expenses of the High Regole, the grazing belt bordering on the valley floor.

The Austrian Period

On 18th October, 1511, the troops of Emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg conquered the Castle of Botestagno, the small fortress located at the northern entrance to the Ampezzo valley. On 21st October, the Emperor was in Ampezzo and ordered the family heads to formally subject. They paid the emperor their respects while beseeching and obtaining confirmation of the statutes of Cadore, already ratified by Venice. The earliest document recognizing the Statute, the Laudi and the rules of Ampezzo got lost. As many as 14 other documents followed until 1792, by which the Ampezzo people were reconfirmed their privileges by the Emperor or the Archduke of Tyrol. Ampezzo was officially given to the Austrian Empire by the treaty of Worms in 1521. Under the Austrian rule, Ampezzo maintained both its independence and the rules ratified by the Laudi, concerning the ownership and management of forests and pasturelands. The common 6

Frontier demarcation between the Hapsburg Empire and the Venetian Republic (1753)

forests in the areas bordering with Dobbiaco, San Vito and Auronzo di Cadore, were the cause of a number of disputes, controversies and endless trials. The first border was set with Dobbiaco in 1536, whereas over two hundred years elapsed before the borders with Auronzo and San Vito were eventually set. There were, instead, fierce disputes between the Regola di Lareto and the Austrian captains of Botestagno over the forests and pastures surrounding the fortress. The controversy led to two trials whose issues were unsuccessful for the Regolieri of Lareto, who were able to repurchase the lands from the Austrian state only in 1798. The 18th century was one of stability and peace for the Regole. In the land register of 1755, known as Catasto Teresiano, the property of the forests was allotted to the Community, whilst the Regole owned the pasturelands , but were entitled only to grazing rights in the forests. The Regolieri did not realise the mistake, perhaps because the Community was still one with the historical Regola of the valley floor and was considered only for its function of managing the alodial estate of the Regolieri. In 1853, the Empire ordered the cancellation of grazing and firewood gathering rights. The law was ignored in Ampezzo until 1870, when a few «progressivists» appealed to it in order to advocate that the Regole were to be assimilated by the Municipality. A first request was submitted to cancel the promiscuity between the Regole and the Municipality. Priests don Pietro and don Isidoro Alverà succeeded in stopping the dangerous trial. Since 1848, in fact, the Commune of Ampezzo had become a public body, and its head was to swear allegiance to His Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph I. In 1885, the Regole were officially recognised by the Austrian State, and during the «Meeting between the Magnifica Comunità d’Ampezzo and the so-called Regole» of 1887, the rights of the Regole were put down in writing and the ownership of the Comunità d’Ampezzo was established. 7

1917. Austrian troops marching through Ospitale

The Italian Period

During the first World War, the entire Ampezzo frontline stood on the lands of the Regole. The whole area suffered serious damage by heavy shelling and the cutting of numerous trees. The Osteria of Ospitale belonging to the Regola Alta of Lareto was destroyed by grenades. At the end of the war, Ampezzo became part of the Reign of Italy and since 1923 has been part of the Belluno Province. In 1927, a law to reorganize civic uses was issued. This law would completely ignore the Regole. In 1936, the Regole started a long law suit to obtain the recognition and assignment of their historical heritage. After the second World War, the law on civic rules was still in force; hence a petition was filed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. The petition advocated that the1927 law could not apply to the Regole, special associations of a private kind. A committee sent by the Ministry to examine the matter rejected the appeal and ordered the cancellation of the promiscuity between the Regole and the Municipality. By the resolution of 7th January, 1947, the Town council declared their willingness to acknowledge the historical rights of the Regole, cancel the promiscuity and grant the ownership of the lands. Waiting for a conclusive settlement, the Regole and the Town council formed a partnership for the temporary technical and administrative management of the agricultural, sylvan and

pastoral properties in a special Association known as ASCoBA. The case ended only in 1959, with the transaction: i.e., the cancellation of the promiscuity and the equitable distribution of forests and pasturelands between the Regole and the Municipality. In 1962, when the historical ownership was restored, the Regole issued a new Laudo. The law on the mountains of 1971 legally acknowledged both the single Regole and the new Comunanza of the Regole. In the last thirty years, new state and regional laws have acknowledged the importance of the Regole, as an association able to manage the preservation and safeguard of natural resources as well as of the historical and cultural heritage. The law issued by the Veneto Region in1990, decreed the creation of the Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites over part of the territory of the Regole; the park is directly managed by the Comunanza of the Regole dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo.

Late Sixties: sawmill and timber yard at Pontechiesa

Transaction between the Regole and the Municipality of Cortina dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo In 1957, a final agreement was reached between the Municipality of Cortina dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo and the Regole with a fair distribution of the lands that had been disputed since 1887. The act by which the Municipality assigned the historical heritage to the Regole was signed by the representatives of both parties in Venice on 25th May 1957. On 18th May 1959, the Municipality approved the documents issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests on the assignment of the lands. Pasture lands, 4,021 hectares, were entirely

assigned to the Regole; 90% of the forests were assigned to the Regole - i.e. 10,398 hectares - and 10% to the Municipality -1,051 ha. By adding barren lands,alps, etc, the total surface of the lands, 16,948 hectares was thus divided: 15,395 ha to the Regole and 1,553 to the Municipality. On 27th November 1959, the Commissary for Civic Uses of Trieste ordered the cancellation of the promiscuity. On 23rd March 1960 the distribution of the lands was recorded in the land register: the ones assigned to the Municipality and the others to the 11 Regole of Ampezzo that are listed as family communities for joint ownership.

Foses Croda Rossa

Ra Stua

Ospitale

PA R C O

Map of the Land distribution in the Municipality of Cortina dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo

Fanes

Legenda Pomagagnon

Lands assigned to the Municipality Lands assigned to the Regole State Property

Borders of the Natural Park

General Chronology

1225 Earliest document mentioning the Regole. 1235 Earliest Statutes of Cadore. 1237 Earliest document of the Regola of Falzarego. 1338 The Statute of Cadore becomes effective. 1356 Earliest Laudo of the Regola of Falzarego and Ambrizola. 1363 Earliest Laudo of the Regola of Lareto. 1415 The Regola of Lareto acquires Lerosa and Intravenanzes. 1420 End of Aquileia patriarchate. Ampezzo under the rule of Venice. Second Laudo of Lareto. 1444 Second Laudo of Ambrizola. 12

1471 Border demarcation with Marebbe. 1475 Earliest Laudi of the Regole Basse. 1511 Botestagno is conquered. Ampezzo pays homage to emperor Maximilian. 1521 Treaty of Worms: Ampezzo is given to Austria. 1523 Ferdinand I ratifies Ampezzo Statutes. 1582-1589 Border demarcation with San Vito. 1752 Border demarcation with Auronzo and SanVito. 1806 Ampezzo and Tyrol under Bavaria. 1810 Ampezzo is given to Napoleon’s Empire. 1813 Ampezzo back to Austria. 1853 Austria cancels grazing and wood gathering rights. 1887 «Meeting» between the Regole and the Town Council. 1915 Cortina is occupied by Italian troops. 1917 The Austrians are back to Cortina. 1918 Ampezzo is occupied by the Italian troops and becomes part of the sovereign territory of Italy. 1923 Royal Decree (30th Dec, 1923; no. 3267). 1950 The ASCoBA is founded: a special association for the temporary management of agricultural, sylvan, and pastoral properties. 1957-59 Transactions between the Regole and the Town Council of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The historical patrimony of forests and pasturelands goes back to the Regole. 1971 Law on the mountains (3rd Oct, 1971; no 1102). 1972 Official opening of the Ciasa de ra Regoles (2nd July, 1972). 1973 Cancellation of the ASCoBA. 1975 Regional law (3rd May, 1975; no 48): amendment concerning the temporary tourist use of the Regole’s property. 1985 Laudo currently in force. 1990 The Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites is created over part of the territory of the Regole (r.l. 22nd Mar, 1990; no21). 1994 Law on the mountains (31st Jan, 1994; no 97). 1996 Regional law (19th Aug, 1996; no 26) reorganization of the Regole.

Parchment from 1226. Courtesy: archive High Regola of Lareto

The Laudo

The Laudo is the set of rules and customs adhered to by the Regole. Originally these rules were transmitted orally - the earliest written records date to the 14th century - from father to son and would regulate pasturing activities and the several aspects concerned with the management of the territory.

The regulations (regole) which the villagers adopted to manage their territory throughout the centuries have become the name of the institution: Regole d’Ampezzo. Today, the Laudo regulates the life of the institution, appoints the managing bodies and decrees their functions, decides which activities can be exercised over the land and the ways to grant concessions for activities other than the traditional ones. The management of the collective property throughout the centuries can be traced in the Laudi. Each Regola was, and still is, presided over by the Marigo, helped by Laudatori (counsellors), Saltari (pasture keepers), a Cuietro (cashier) and the Precone. The last acted as usher to carry out restraints and as town crier to announce the orders of the Marigo. All the appointments had the duration of one year and the elected members had to swear on the Bible that they would perform their duty with conscientiousness; assignments were compulsory and anyone who refused was fined and compelled to undertake their task. A large part of the Laudi used to provide a set of sanctions - fines or the seizure and withholding of livestock for disrespecting the regulations.

Regulations

Half way between private and State institutions, the Regole are peculiar organizations which, from a juridical point of view, can be described as «mountain family communities». The Italian State acknowledges the legal status of the private law and the freedom of independent management - in conformity with their own Regulations or statutes - to the Regole d’Ampezzo as well as to many other similar institutions that exist all over the Alps and the Apennines. However, the collective property and its obligations are considered as the environmental heritage that has assumed national importance. The forests and the mountains of the Regole are, in fact, among the most beautiful in the Dolomites and have therefore to be considered everyone’s heritage. The negotiations between the State and the Regional governments, to have the Regole accepted as part of the Italian juridical system, have been rather long and difficult. Yet the Regole have eventually been acknowledged for their important function of preserving the territory and protecting the environment. The Veneto government has acknowledged this value and since 1990 has entrusted to the Regole the management of the Regional Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, this being 14

the first case in Italy of a regional park managed by a private organisation. For centuries, the patrimony of the Regole has been utilised for the benefit of the community through pasturing activities, tree felling and sale of trees, for both construction timber for the dwelling homes of the Regolieri and firewood for heating. The common property is enjoyed according to the needs of each family, and the use of forests and pasturelands is regulated by the Laudi, ancient written codes that have been handed down for centuries and, almost unaltered, are still respected and held as valid today. The community has always protected the common heritage of forests and pastures by some special restrictions: • Intended use: agro-forestry the property is intended for perpetual forest and pasture use in perpetuity. • Inalienability prohibition to sell or transfer the property to others. • Indivisibility prohibition to divide up the property among the Regolieri or with others. Currently, the law provides other modes of protection: • Inusucaptibility impossibility , for the property of the Regole, to be gained by usucaption. • Common interest the environmental value of the heritage goes beyond the interest of the Regole and is extended to the whole community.

Reference

regulations Laudo of the Comunanza of the Ampezzo Regole (in force, year 2005). Regulations to the Laudo of the Comunanza of the Ampezzo Regole (in force, year 2007). Law No. 991, art 35 of 25th July 1952. Provisions in favour of mountain territories.

Decree by the President of the Republic, No. 1979, art 30 of 16th November, 1952. Regulations to enforce the Law No. 991 of 25th July 1952. Law no. 1102, art 10-11 of 3rd December 1971. New regulations for the development of the mountain areas. Regional Law of the Veneto Government no. 21 of 22nd March 1990. Regulation to create the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites. Law No. 97, art 3 of 31st January, 1994. New provisions for mountain areas. Regional Law of the Veneto government no. 26 of 19th August 1996. Re-organization of the Regole. 15

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Monumental fir trees at Ra Stua

Management of Collective Heritage

Originally the Regole were mainly concerned with the management of pastures and only at a later time the institution assumed the collective management of forests and timber. The Regole d’Ampezzo still perform their traditional function of managing the territory with agroforestry purposes and are committed to preserving the environmental resources which have recently become a fundamental issue.

Tree cutting and sale of timber

The forests of the Regole cover a surface of about 16,000 hectares, from valley floor to the upper limits of vegetation; they mainly consist of conifers: spruce, larch, silver fir, and arolla pine. Tree felling and the sale of forest products are the Regole’s main activity, both for the amount of work involved and for the annual income. The transport of trees from the forests to the sawmills requires continuous maintenance of forest roads over a hundred kilometre long network. Maintenance works are done by the Regole, by periodically repairing forest trails. Forestry activities are regulated by a Forestry Plan and managed by the Regole, which employ specialised staff to carry out the different work phases.

Forestry Plan

This is the legal document whereby the forest property is registered according to surface and characteristics. The plan is updated every twelve years. It describes all the forests managed by the Regole in detail. The forest property is arranged by homogeneous areas, called «forest parcels», and grouped by geographic districts. The total amount of wood is about 800,000 cubic metres, corresponding to about 830,000 high trunk trees with diameters of over 20 cm. The forests, mostly of conifers (spruce, larch, and pine trees) grow by about 20,000 cu.m. every year and only a small part of the trees are cut to be used as timber or firewood, so as to enable the forests to grow in size year after year. The timber collected by the Regole ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 cu.m. a year, that is 25-30% of the total annual regrowth. 80% is sold as timber and 20% is used as firewood for domestic heating by the Regolieri. 19

Construction timber

The Regolieri may obtain timber for the construction, restoration and maintenance of their dwelling homes. This right, known as «internal use», is still enjoyed in accordance with the regulations provided for by the Laudi, which have always been very clear on the matter. Construction timber is granted only for «ascertained family needs and not for industrial purposes». Each year, the best timber coming from the annual felling of trees is kept aside for the Regolieri.

Logs piled along the forest road

Firewood

The Regolieri are entitled to a certain amount of firewood for domestic heating. The use of the špórer (cookstove) and the fornèl, the traditional wood burning stove tiled in majolica, is still widespread, often the main source of heating in Ampezzo homes. The Laudo currently in force decrees that every family head is entitled to 7 cubic tere metre metres of firewood per year, plus 1 cubic metre for each member. The stère metre is the unit of measureFirewood my either be collected by the ment of stacked wood. One stère metre Regolieri in the forests or delivered at equals to one cubic metre of piled wood, home against payment of handling and including the empty spaces between the transport expenses. logs of the stack.

Pasture activities

Pastures are managed by each single Regola and not by the Comunanza Regoliera. Because the number of livestock led to summer pastures has dropped considerably, only four of the original eleven Regole Ampezzane still maintain Pasture activities, and four shepherd’s huts are currently being used: ra Stua and Federa on the higher pastures, Lareto and Pezié de Parù on the lower pastures. Each Regola decides the number of livestock to be led to the mountain pastures during the summer and makes agreements with the breeders.

Nearly 400 cattle are grazed every year on the lands of the Regole, mainly calves and heifers, in addition there are over 700 sheep and some dozen heads of horses and goats. However, most of the animals are not from the Ampezzo valley and do not belong to the Regolieri, but to breeders of nearby valleys - Val Pusteria, Badia, and Livinallongo - who take their animals to these summer pastures. Livestock breeders in Cortina are few and their contribution in number of heads does not satisfy pasture maintenance requirements. In the past, leading animals out to summer pastures was fundamental to the lives of the Ampezzo families, whereas today grazing is mainly performed to maintain the pastoral, tourist, and environmental characteristics of the territory. The Regole continue their secular activities by providing shepherds and by checking the animals’ state of health while out on the mountain pastures. Each malga has also restaurant, inn or farm holiday services; so that shepherds can supplement their salary with tourist incomes. In this way, pastoral activities - that have unfortunately decreased over the whole Alpine arc - are offered better hopes to survive. Above: sheep are driven down from Fosses mountain pastures Below: cattle are led from Pian de Loa to Ra Stua summer pastures

Sheep grazing and shepherd’s hut at Foses, High Regola of Lareto

Property and diverse uses

The Regole’s heritage does not consist in forests and pastures only, but also of several houses and buildings. The offices are in the «Ciasa de ra Regoles», a historical 18th century building located in the very heart of Cortina. In the past the building served as local school. Nearly one hundred buildings stand over the lands of the Regole: shepherd huts and mountain inns, skiing facilities and service buildings for the staff. These immovable goods may be let or granted to third persons, but their uses and destinations must be supervised by the Regole. The Dolomites above the pasturelands are property of the State and have been let to the Regole for about twenty years now. These lands, though already protected by the law, are not actually used, but are held in concession to prevent violations by private speculators because of the extraordinary scenic importance of the Dolomite massifs - the Tofane, Mount Cristallo, Croda Rossa, Croda da Lago, just to mention some. 22

Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites

Ciasa de ra Regoles

Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites In 1990, the Veneto regional government created the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites on the historical, collective and undivided property of the Regole. The Comunanza of the Regole d’Ampezzo was entrusted by the regional government with the management of the Park «because of the specificity of the ancient forms of management of the Ampezzo natural resources, that have been preserved and safeguarded for hundreds of years by the Regole». The creation of the Park has also acknowledged the environmental effectiveness of the secular collective management of the territory. The protected area covers a surface of 11,200 hectares. To the north it borders with the Natural Park of Fanes-SenesBraies, and together they form a protected area with homogeneous environmental characteristics which stretches over a total surface of 37,000 hectares. The area of the Park is homogenous also in terms of land uses: there are neither human settlements nor alpine - skiing facilities. Areas are solely devoted to forestry and pastoral activities or integral natural reserve. The symbol of the Park is the Sempervivum dolomiticum, a small plant with a star-shaped red flower which is found only in the Dolomites and can live many years in harsh climatic conditions.

One of the most important «civilian» buildings in Cortina d’Ampezzo, next to the old Town hall. The building shows the typical style of 18th century Austrian housing in its pavilion roof, its moulded eaves cornice, and the absence of balconies. Originally, the building was created to house the local school thanks to Dean Rudiferia who convinced the Town council in 1825. The construction was completed in 1827. In 1868, it had already become too small for the number of pupils and an additional floor was built to accommodate all the students of the local «Popular School» until the new primary school was inaugurated in 1938. Since 1957, it has been the seat of the Regole d’Ampezzo.Between 1971 and 1972, the Ciasa de ra Regoles was completely renovated inside. The roof and the frescoes were restored in 1999-2000, its façades are decorated with the coats of arms of the Ampezzo Regole. The building hosts the Mario Rimoldi Modern 23 Art Museum.

Cultural Activities The Regole of Ampezzo support cultural activities to promote and safeguard the historic, scientific, and linguistic heritage of the Ampezzo community. The Regole own three museums, namely, the Palaeontology Museum «Rinaldo Zardini» with the fossils of the Dolomites; Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum, which hosts one of the most important collections of the Italian Twentieth century art and the Ethnographic Museum of the Ampezzo Regole which exhibits the agroforestry traditions of the Ampezzo community through objects and images. Books and journals have been issued and conferences are periodically held to better understand and provide more detailed information on this age-old institution.

The Journal

Since 1990 the Regole d’Ampezzo have been publishing the two-monthly journal«Ciasa de ra Regoles» to inform on the general issues of the Regole and on their activities The journal covers also historical and cultural articles, archive research studies, letters to the editor and news from the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites. The journal is sent free to the Regolieri and to all those who make request.

Palaeontological Museum «Rinaldo Zardini»

The Council of the Regole Heritage

The Regole of Ampezzo has membership of the National Council for Civic Uses of Collective Properties. The National Council is a non-profit body, which assembles all the communities using civic uses and civic properties, agricultural universities and collective properties. Its scope is the protection and promotion of these ancient juridical institutions with particular regard to economic, social, naturalistic, and cultural issues through research, initiatives and events to favour a better knowledge and understanding of natural and anthropic resources which are (or may be) held or used collectively by local communities. The Council, based in Trento, was founded by the Italian Senate on 7th March 2006 and its activities draw inspiration from the Manifesto di Roma - the common declaration of the collective properties, approved by the Senate at the time of its foundation. The Council is organized as a federal structure with regional Coordinating boards.

Annual calendar

The activities of the Regole throughout the year clearly follow the seasonal rhythms and are mainly connected with the summer season. The season officially opens on the first Thursday after Whitsunday, with the traditional procession to the church of St Nicholas at Ospitale, the holy Mass and the blessing of pastures. The people of Ampezzo still care a lot about this anniversary. The High Regole first lead their livestock to graze on low altitude pastures- Ronche, Col de Vido, Pian de Loa- later to the higher altitude pastures when grass is high enough to graze -Federa, Formin, ra Stua, Lerosa, Cianpo de Crosc-. Livestock remain on the pastures until the end of September; by St Francis’ day (on 4th October) all the animals are drawn back to the valley and on the next Thursday there takes place again the procession to the church of Ospitale and the thanksgiving Mass. In October and November there is the tree marking known as “hammer blow” which consists in identifying the trees to be cut the following year, according to the regulations of the Economic Plan. During winter , auctions are held to cut the logs: lots are sold “by road” and tree cutting is performed by specialized staff appointed by the Regole. Tree felling and log transportation to the forest roads take place

Gonfalons of the High Regole

during the summer season following the «hammer-blow». Every year, maintenance works are carried out on forest roads, which are necessary to transport the logs. The Regolieri always meet in the General Assembly on the first Sunday after Easter. Here, the community budget is approved and the future activities are planned. Participation to the Assembly is always massive, because the life of the Regola is still much felt and the Consorti are quite willing to participate.

Martelà - marking the trees to be fell

The act of marking the trees is by hammer-blow and it serves to identifying the ripe, misshapen, or damaged trees to be removed, by marking them by a hammer-blow. The tree trunk is marked with two hammer-blows: the higher one for the woodcutters to easily identify the trees to be felled; the lower one, bearing the stamp of the forest hammer, is to remain on the stump of the felled tree.

High regola of Lareto Church of St. Nicholas, St. Blaise, and St. Anthony the Abbot at Ospitale (13th century)

Procession to the Church of Ospitale with blessing of the pastures

The church was consecrated by the delegate of the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1226; its walls, but for the choir, are the original ones in Romanesque style. The pictorial cycles of the frescoes, once on the external façade and now conserved inside date to 1430 ca. In 1572, Benedikt Hebenstreit, the vice-captain of the Botestagno fortress, had the church enlarged by adding the Gothic Choir, the Sacristy and the small bell tower; besides, he donated the Renaissance altar-piece featuring the Virgin Mary between St Nicholas and St Blaise. In 1626, the vicar of Aquileia, bishop Eusebio Caimo, consecrated three more altars: the high altar in honour of St Nicholas, the altar to the right of St Blaise and the one to the left of St Anthony the Abbot, as well as the relics of Saints Innocent and Marcello. In 1781, as a consequence of the reforms by Joseph II, the «Sacristan King», the church was closed and processions were abolished. At the 26

death of the Emperor in 1792, the church was re-opened. The church suffered serious damage during Napoleonic wars, at the beginning of the 19th century and during the first world war, 1914-1918. Between 1985 and 1992, restoration works and the reinforcement of the whole building were completed. In the past centuries, processions would take place on the days of St Nicholas, St Blaise and St Anthony the Abbot; today processions are held on the Thursday after Whitsunday for the blessing of the country and the pasturelands and on the Thursday after St Francis day as a thanksgiving for the crops and the pastoral activities.

The Lexicon of the Regole Regolieri They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Ampezzo valley. Holders of family interests , they are entitled to the rights of the Regole: i.e., collecting firewood, pasturingÂ their own livestock over the lands of the Regole, being assigned timber (to build or repair dwelling homes), and the right of franchise and eligibility for election within the Assembly. There exists a special land register of the Regolieri, i.e., a roll where all the entitled members, also known as Consorti, are recorded. Consorti Synonym for Regolieri. The term is highly significant since it refers to the very origin of the Regole: the men of the collectivi-

ty shared a common destiny (from Latin ÂŤcum sortisÂť), that is, they were bound to the same land and to the destiny of the land itself. Assembly It represents all the Regolieri registered in the Land Register. The Assembly elects the managing bodies, sets the guidelines for the use of the land, approves or rejects uses of the territory other than agricultural, sylvan, and pastoral ones, like concessions for uphill lift facilities and ski runs. The Assembly of the Regolieri consists of about 1300 members, who meet at least once a year to approve the works of the administration and decide on the most important matters.

19th April 2009; general assembly of the Regole at the Alexander Girardi Hall

Catasto (Land Register) The roll in which all the entitled Regolieri are registered, a sort of «record of shareholders». All the male family heads descending from the original families and all their sons, called Fioi de Sotefamea, are here registered. Failing sons, the rights pass over to daughters, called Femenes or Fies da Roba. Fioi de Sotefamea The sons of the Regolieri are entered in the Land Register when they reach 25 years of age. All the sons of the Regolieri or, failing brothers, the daughters, called Fies da Roba, are entitled to be registered. Femenes and Fies da Roba The daughters of the Regolieri who have no brothers. They are called «da roba» (meaning property -owners) because in the past they would inherit their fathers’ properties, failing brothers. They were - and still are - given the title of Regoliere as if they were of male gender. At her father’s death, the «Fia (daughter) da Roba» becomes «Femena (woman) da Roba». However, they lose all the rights in case of marriage to a man who does not belong to a family of Regolieri; whereas, they can pass their rights onto their children in case of marriage to a Regoliere. Marigo The legal representative of the Regole. This is one of the many words that are still currently used in the lexicon of the Regole; it comes from Latin «maior maioricus». The post of Marigo has been passed over for centuries in all the eleven Regole, without any interruption. The Marigo is appointed every year by «rodoleto», i.e. rotation from home to home and from family to family. In the «high» Regole, the «marighezza» occurs by turns within the Rappresentanza, i.e., the governing body whose members have twelve-year mandates. This is an example of democracy by which everyone - farmers, craftsmen, dealers, employees, etc. - are given the opportunity to preside over a Regola and undertake the management both of its own activities and within the Council in the Committee of the Regole. 28

Information Ciasa de ra Regoles

Main Offices of the Regole d’Ampezzo 1, Via del Parco 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) Tel. + 39 0436 2206 - fax+39 0436 2269 info@regole.it

Information Office

Park Info Point Locality Ponte Felizon 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) Tel. +39 0436 2206

Information Office

Park Info Point Locality Fiames 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) Tel. +39 0436 2206

Our Malghe (shepherd’s and herdsman’s huts) Malga ra Stua

High Regola of Lareto Cattle, goat, and horse pasture. Mountain inn and restaurant services.

Malga Federa

Regola of Ambrizola Cattle pasture. Holiday Farm and restaurant service.

Malga Pezié de Parù

Regola of Pocol

Cattle pasture. Mountain inn and restaurant service.

Malga Larieto

Low Regola of Lareto. Cattle pasture. Holiday Farm and restaurant service.

Casera Valbona

High Regola of Lareto

Cattle pasture.

High Regole

Low Regole

ÂŠ Regole dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ampezzo - edizione in inglese giugno 2011 - Stampa e grafica Print House Cortina - Foto Dino Colli e Archivio Regole - Traduzioni: Emma Associati - Cortina