Law No. 9693 on the Pasture Fund.

This Law concerns the administration and protection of pastures and meadows. It defines tasks and duties of central and local State bodies in this sector and makes provision on specialized research institutions. The Law consists of eight Chapters: (I) General Provisions; (II) Pastures Fund; (III) Conservation, administration and use of pastures and meadows; (IV) Prevention of damages; (V) Administration of the Pastures Fund; (VI) Monitoring and control; (VII) Penalties; (VIII) Final provisions.
The Law classifies the pasture fund into state, municipal, and private ownership, establishing clear distinctions between summer and winter pastures based on their seasonal use and ecological capacity. It defines a "pasture" as a land area greater than 0.5 hectares with dense natural herbaceous vegetation, while "meadows" are characterized by their suitability for scything or livestock grazing. The Law explicitly excludes forests and agricultural lands from its scope, even if they are temporarily used for grazing, ensuring that specialized management remains focused on the pasture ecosystem.
A central feature of the Law is the establishment of the Register of the Pasture Fund, a mandatory national database used for tracking the inventory, physical condition, and ownership changes of these lands. The Law mandates the creation of "Pasture Breeding" plans—technical management strategies designed to maintain ecological balance while maximizing the economic potential of the land. These plans must be reviewed by technical commissions to ensure that grazing activities do not exceed the soil's "carrying capacity," thereby preventing land degradation and biodiversity loss.
The Law also outlines the administrative responsibilities of both central and local government bodies, particularly the ministry responsible for forests and the municipal structures that manage local communal pastures. It includes specific procedures for the temporary or permanent transfer of pasture land to other uses, such as for long-term state programs or vital infrastructure, provided that such changes are approved at the ministerial level.