Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

The purpose of this Act, consisting of 319 sections divided into seventeen Parts and completed by one Schedule, is to conserve and protect biodiversity and biodiversity components in the State; and to promote the ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity components in the State. In the pursuit of the objects of this Act, regard must be had to the principles of ecologically sustainable development as follows: a) decision making processes should effectively integrate both long term and short term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations; b) if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation; c) the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations; d) the conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision making; e) improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.
The Law is divided as follows: Biodiversity management programme; Biodiversity conservation agreements; Biodiversity conservation covenants; Nature based tourism and recreation; Legal proceedings; Legal proceedings; Regulations, orders and guidelines; etc.