Abitare il Bosco. A manifesto for the integration of forests into communities

The "Manifesto Abitare il Bosco" proposes a renewed approach to forests as living territorial systems and as integral components of the communities that inhabit them. Moving beyond the traditional dichotomy between conservation and exploitation, it advances a systemic and responsible vision of forest management that integrates ecological, social, cultural and economic dimensions. Central to the Manifesto is the active involvement of local communities in the care, governance and shared responsibility of forest areas, recognising forests as common goods and as dynamic socio-ecological systems. The document outlines key principles for sustainable forest management, emphasising the importance of context-specific interventions, adaptive planning and the integration of local knowledge. Through the promotion of pilot projects and the creation of networks of “cared-for forests”, the Manifesto identifies pathways for locally grounded yet scalable models of sustainable development, highlighting forests as spaces of well-being, environmental balance and collective responsibility.