Protected Areas Act.

This Act provides for the protection and use, designation and management of protected areas. It consists of 6 Chapters divided into 86 articles, of supplementary, transitional and final provisions, and of 2 Annexes listing parks of national significance and nature reserves.
Protected areas shall incorporate forests, terrestrial and aquatic areas and shall be classified as follows: strict nature reserve; national park; natural monument; managed nature reserve; natural park, protected site.
Chapter I sets out provisions on the ownership of the forests, land tracts and aquatic areas. Chapter II provides for the management and use of, and for activities prohibited in protected areas. Protected areas shall be designated and modified by the Minister of Environment and Water as provided for in Chapter III. The National Park Directorates and the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water shall be regional authorities of the Ministry of Environment and Water in respect of protected areas. Management plans shall be elaborated for protected areas, and physical security shall be organized therein (Chapter IV). The remaining Chapters contain provisions on the financing of protected areas, and administrative penal provisions.