Decree-Law No. 3/97 approving the Legal Regime for Protected Areas.

This Decree-Law, consisting of 4 Titles, approves the legal regime for protected areas within the territory of Guinea Bissau. It specifies the requirements to be satisfied by protected areas in order: to preserve natural ecosystems, to protect flora, fauna and biological diversity and promote the rational and sustainable economic use of part of the National territory, including water courses, lakes, sea, which can be classified by Decree as National or natural parks, sanctuary, protected areas or sacred forests. The Decree-Law is divided as follows: Protected areas (Title I); Natural reserve, sanctuary and ecologic protected areas (Title II); Offences and penalties (Title III); Final provisions (Title IV).