Forests Act 2009 (No. 6 of 2009).

This Act promotes the use of sustainable forestry, through participation with local communities. It also provides for the declaration of Protected Areas within the framework of the Environmental Protection Act and the establishment of a code of practice. The Act increases coordination with mining, introducing the requirement of a consultation before granting any licence for mining or petroleum prospecting or production. The Minister may make an order declaring any area of public forested land to be a State forest. The Act provides for sustainable management of state forests. The Forestry Commission may enter into forest concession agreements, community forest management agreements or afforestation agreement and grant exploratory permits or use permits.
The Act provides for the protection and conservation of forests, including measures to: (a) conserve biological diversity; (b) protect specific trees and plants; (c) conserve soil and water resources; and (d) protect forests against degradation, fires, pests, and diseases. The Environmental Protection Agency may declare specially protected areas, prohibiting any disturbance of the soil, vegetation, rivers, or creeks in that specially protected area. The Act also provides for prevention of forest fires, the protection of trees and plants, forest conservation areas on private land and provides rules for forestry operations.