This work aims to evaluate the extent of State intervention in the process of the redefinition of property rights. By studying the evolution of municipal woodlands in Extremadura, my main objective is to analyse the two mechanisms of intervention in the area of publicly held property: the definitive privatisation of property and the technical inspection of production. Even if we play down the effect of legislation, the present investigation confirms the full success of the privatisation formula employed in the Sapnish Southwest. State control over production, however, was far less efficient. Precisely in this area we can see how difficult it is for the State to enforce a comprehensively policy throghout its territory.