Forests Act (No. 3 of 1999).

The declared (sect. 3) objects of the Act are: ensuring effective and ecologically sustainable management of forest resources; promotion of a sustainable commercial timber industry, and; protection and conservation of forest resources, habitats and ecosystems including the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity. The administration of matters affecting forests is entrusted to Commissioner of Forests appointed under section 6 and the Minister who shall be advised by the Solomon Forestry Board established under section 5. The Commissioner shall prepare and supervise the carrying into effect of the national timber industry policy and a national forest resource management strategy (sect. 7). The contents of the policy are outlined in section 12, the contents of the strategy in section 14. A code of practice for timber harvesting and forest management shall be adopted by the Minister in accordance with section 16. The Commissioner may, in accordance with section 20, determine the potential forest uses for an area of forest. Part IV of the Act makes provision for the control of forestry activities such as timber harvesting, contractor arrangements, land clearing, timber processing, timber marketing and exportation of timber. Part V provides in detail for matters regarding "forest access" (defined in section 2), such as the recognition of customary forest access rights and the negotiation of forest access rights. It restricts the transfer, etc. of forest access rights in relation to unregistered customary land in the sense of the Land and Titles Act (cap. 133). A Statement of customary ownership may be lodged by owners of unregistered land under sections 71 to 76. Section deals with disputes in relation to such statements. The Commissioner shall invite customary owners to determine the potential forest uses on their land (sect. 79 and following). The form of a forest agreement, which requires consent by provincial authorities, is outlined in section 83. Part VI make provision with respect to State forests. The Minister may declare land in which the Commissioner holds a freehold or leasehold interest, to be a State forest. The Minister may, for purposes of water conservation, declare any rainfall catchment area to be a forest reserve under section 91 (Part VII: Forest Reserves). Part VIII grants power of enforcement to the Commissioner and to forest inspectors who shall be appointed by the Minister under section 96, whereas Part IX ("Miscellaneous Provisions") grants regulation making powers to the Minister and protects officials against proceedings for acts done in good faith. (122 sections completed by one Schedule)