Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017.

These Rules implement provisions of the Forest and Nature Conservation Act, 1995.
The Department of Forests and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests shall prepare and adopt management plans for different forest management regimes. The Forest Management Committee at National, Divisional or the Forest Management Unit (FMU) level shall be formed to oversee and advise Department and the Division on the implementation of Forest Management Plans in the FMUs and other management regimes. The Department shall evaluate the effective implementation of the Management Plans as per the Forest Management Code. The Department shall also develop Technical Regulations for sustainable collection or harvesting of Non-Wood Forests Product (NWFPs) (including Cordyceps) from the State Reserved Forest Land. The local community group shall be given priority to manage and harvest NWFPs. Any village/Chiwog consisting of one or more household willing to establish and manage NWFPs, may form a NWFP Management Group and submit application to obtain a NWFP Management Certificate.
In addition, the Rules declare all forests in Bhutan as defined in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act, 1995 to be the State Reserved Forest (SRF) Land and provide for: the allotment of land, land rights and user’s rights in SRFs; land registration; prohibited and restricted activities in these forests except if in possession of a permit granted by the Minister; general conditions for lease of SRF land; marking of timber; requirements for grazing in SRFs; restrictions on fishing and on fishing methods; etc. The Rules further establish community forests on Government Reserved Forest and provide for their management and the use of forest resources.
Furthermore, the Rules regulate the transport, import and export of forest produce, including requirements for obtaining a permit, and inspection of forests produce in transit or trade. They also regulate or prohibit any activity within a Protected Area and prohibit, regulate or require permits for the import of any animals or plants. The Parliament may declare any part of the country to be a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Nature Reserve, Protected Forest, Biological Corridor, Biosphere Reserve, Critical Watershed, Heritage Forest and any other categories meriting protection. Any individual, agency or organization intending to conduct research within State Reserved Forests, Protected Area, Community Forests and any other forest under management regimes shall seek approval from the Department.
Provisions also include the conservation of soil and water. The Department shall carryout the assessment of watersheds in River basins classifying into Critical, Degraded, Normal and Pristine as per the forest management code for watershed management. In the event the private land falling within the critical watershed is posing a threat to the watershed area, the land shall be acquired by the Government and compensation or land substitute shall be given for the land acquired The Watershed Management Committee at Dzongkhag or Gewog level shall be formed.
The Rules also make provisions for offences and penalties.