Forest Act (Cap. 157).

This Act provides for the protection of forests and the creation and management of forest reserves. The President may, by executive instrument, constitute as a forest reserve - (a) lands which are the property of the Government; (b) stool lands, at the request of the relevant authority; (c) private lands, at the request of the owner; (d) lands that ought to be protected in order to (i) safeguard the water supply of the district, or (ii) assist the well-being of the forest and agricultural crops grown on those lands or in the vicinity of those lands, or (iii) secure the supply of forest produce to the inhabitants of villages situated on those lands or in the vicinity of those lands. The Act sets out the procedure for the creation of a forest reserve and establishes rules relative to rights in land affected by a notice to constitute a forest reserve (including a judgement by the Reserve Settlement Commissioner a related appeal).
The ownership of land within a proposed forest reserve shall not be altered by its constitution as a forest reserve. A forest reserve shall be managed by (a) the owner under the direction of the Forestry Commission, or (b) the Government for the benefit of the owner. A right in a forest reserve shall not be alienated by sale, lease, mortgage, charge, or transfer, unless the right holder has given a written notification of that intention to the Forestry Commission. A Regional Minister may, on the request of the Forestry Commission stop a public or private way or water-course in a forest reserve, where an alternative exists or will be created.
The Act creates the Forests Improvement Fund, which shall be under the control of the Minister responsible for Forests. Payments from the Fund may be made in respect of costs incurred in connection with exploitation and silvicultural work and for forest reserve improvement works. The Act defines offences in respect of forest reserves and provides with respect to powers of enforcement.