Decree-Law No. 5/2011 approving the New Forestry Law.

This Decree-Law approves the Forestry Law. It aims at: the promotion of the sustainable exploitation of forestry resources; at the optimization for the socio-economic and cultural development in line with the protection and preservation of the natural environment; at the improvement of the quality of life of the population, through the promotion and rational exploitation of forestry resources within the Guinea-Bissau territory. It consists of 8 Titles, divided in 58 articles, establishing the requirements to be satisfied in order to perform authorized forest exploitation activities under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It also concerns public and private forest management, tree logging authorization/prohibition and wood sale conditions, specifying the requirements to be met in order to obtain a forestry exploitation licence (duration, terms and conditions). This Decree-Law establishes as well forestry protection measures in order to avoid forest fires and sanctions for offenders. The Forestry Law is divided as follows: General provisions (Title I); Forestry institutions (Title II); Forestry regime (Title III); Forestry resources management (Title IV); Community forests (Title V); Forestry control system and sanctions (Title VI); Forests revision limits (Title VII); Final provisions (Title VIII).