ABSTRACT. – The Shepherding in the Maramureş Mountains and its Role in the Local Development. Maramureş Mountains by their position in the Maramureş Land constitute from immemorial times a favourable space for shepherding. This study, part of a much more ample research, focuses on the analysis of this traditional economic activity and its role in the local development in the Maramureş Land. We have in view many aspects concerning the organization of the space with sheepfolds, rules concerning the order of the sheepfolds, the correspondence between the position of the sheepfold and the tourist roads, aspects concerning the capitalization of the products obtained as well the degree of use of the wool and the leather in the traditional costume and the way in which is reflected in the welfare of the population. We analyzed too aspects concerning the system of the sheepfold organization and the migratory flows that are realized from the considerable distance. This work tries to present progressively these aspects beginning with 14th century (the first written documents) to the present.
Keywords: local development, sheepfold, shepherding, welfare, Maramureş.