Forest Code (Law No. 420-Z).

The Law consists of 10 Sections composed of 32 articles dealing with the following matters: 1) general provisions (sect. 1, arts. 1-15); 2) forestry organization (sect. 2, arts. 16-34); 3) forest management (sect. 3, arts. 35-68); 4) reproduction of forests and forestation, improvement of forest reproduction and forest quality (sect. 4, arts. 69-72); 5) protection and conservation of forest stock (sect. 5, arts. 73-86); 6) the state registration of forest stock and forest monitoring (sect. 6, arts. 87-91); 7) the economic mechanism of management, protection, conservation of forest stock and reproduction of forests (sect. 7, arts. 92-95); 8) liability and dispute settlement (sect. 8, arts. 96-105); 9) international agreements (sect. 9, art. 106); 10) conclusive provisions (arts. 107-109). The present Forest Code establishes the legal basis for the rational forest management, protection, conservation, and reproduction of forests and the improvement of the ecological potential thereof. The purpose of the forest legislation shall be to ensure rational and inexhaustible forest management, protection, conservation and reproduction of forests on the basis of sustainable forest management, conservation of biological diversity of the forest ecosystem, improvement of environmental, water protective, sanitary and hygienic, recreational and other functions of forests, raising up forest potential for the purpose of meeting the demands of society in forest resources on the basis of scientifically substantiated, multi-purpose forest management (art. 3). Forest stock shall be formed by forests, forest land, and non-forest land (art. 4). Forests shall be exclusively public property (art. 7). Forest management shall be carried out by the authorized state forest institution (art. 10). Forest stock shall be divided into two categories: 1) protected areas (reserves, national parks), forests of cultural heritage, protection forests, recreational and urban forests; 2) forests not pertaining to the first group (commercial forest) (art. 16). Forestry arrangements and forest management must be carried out so as not to damage environment, animal and vegetable realms, and also human health (art. 20). The following activities can be carried out in forest stock: 1) timber extraction; 2) soft resin extraction; 3) procurement of secondary forest products; 4) collection of berries, mushrooms, honey, medicinal herbs etc.; 5) hunting; 6) recreation and tourism (art. 36). Forest areas pertaining to forest stock can be conceded for the forest management on condition of open-ended contract (art. 37). Citizens shall have free access to the territory of forest stock and shall have the right to collect free of charge for personal consumption wild fruits, edible nuts, mushrooms, medicinal herbs and other secondary forest resources, and also to take part in sport and recreational events and tourist activities (art. 42). Plots of forest can be conceded on lease for carrying out one or several forest management activities (art. 45). Allotment of woodcutting areas for the purpose of timber extraction shall be carried out in conformity with the decision made by the authorized state forest institution (art. 52). Timber extraction shall be carried out by main felling in overmature and mature forests (art. 54). Contract for the concession of the plots of forests for hunting shall be concluded for the period of no less than ten years (art. 60). The functions of the State Forest Service shall be: 1) protection and conservation of forests and biological diversity; 2) supervision over management, protection, conservation of forest stock and reproduction of forests (art. 82). Forest monitoring shall be an integral part of environmental monitoring (art. 89). Forest management shall be charged (art. 92).