Forest conflicts and public intervention. The case of the forests of María and Vélez Blanco (Almeria, Spain). 1879-1901

In order to gain knowledge of the evolution of the forests of María and Vélez Blanco during this period, as well as the influence the Forestry Administration had on the same, a study has been carried out on the events that occurred during the last quarter of the nineteen century. These commence with the first years of public intervention and end with the drafting of the Forestry Engineer Domingo Olazábal's Report regarding the specification of territories, approved by Royal Decree dated 21 September 1900 which, by sharing the forests between the Ducal House and the villages, confirmed the public nature of those assigned to the latter, thus establishing the bases for the public forestry management carried out during the twentieth century.