Forestry and natural resources law 2002

The Act consists of 6 Chapters divided into 61 articles. Chapter I contains preliminary provisions. Chapter II provides for the management of renewable natural resources. Chapter III deals with reserved areas. Chapter IV pertains to the protection of forests and renewable resources outside of reserved areas for public interest. Chapter V refers to the act of Confiscation. Chapter VI contains offences and penalties. Article 3 contains an extensive list of interpretations. The Corporation shall be the principal force in the country to carry out afforestation, improvement of sylvo-pastoralism, development of forestry production, facilitation of grazing, etc. (art. 5). Powers of the Corporation to achieve its objectives are set out in article 6. The Administrative Council shall be established to be in charge of the corporation’s affairs and to act on behalf of it in all authorities stipulated in this Act (sect. 7). Article 9 defines the responsibilities of the Council. The Corporation shall have a Director-General (art. 13), the duties of which are defined in article 14. All Reserved Areas by virtue of the 1989 Forests Act shall remain reserved as if they have been reserved by virtue of this Act taking into consideration all rights thereof in the Reserved Areas before the entry into force of this Act. The Corporation shall prepare maps of Reserved Areas in accordance with article 26. Sections 27 to 30 set out the procedure for the declaration of Reserved Areas including the cancellation of property or any other rights. Reserved Areas may be declared on request of land owners (art. 29) or for the public interest (art. 30). Article 32 concerns the exploitation of the Reserved Areas. Reserved Areas shall be managed according to their classification (i.e. Federal Forest, State Forest, forests established in accordance with article 29, Popular Forest, private forest or Corporate Forest). Article 34 provides for the identification of public roads, paths, water channels and resources in Reserved Areas Declarations, whereas article 36 defines the power of the Director General to close a public route, a water source or a water channel. Article 37 lists acts prohibited in Reserved Areas and article 38 prohibited acts outside the Reserved Areas. Chapter 4 makes provision with respect to protection measures of forests, prevention of fires, control of forest exploitation, forest product processing and operation of sawing mills. Article 46 of