Obștea Forest Communities are traditional collective institutions in Romania through which villagers jointly govern forests and mountain lands. Based on centuries-old customary law, these communities make decisions through assemblies of members, regulate resource use, and distribute benefits collectively. Revived and legally recognized after the fall of socialism, obștea represent enduring forms of commons-based governance and rural democracy rooted in local autonomy.
| Creation date | 1600 |
|---|---|
| Topics | Commons, Land Use, Biodiversity, Democracy, Environmental justice |
| Context | Rural |
| Typology | Cultural Sovereignty |
| Languages | Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan |
| Thematics | Radical Democracy |