Act on the conservation of biological resources and their ecosystems (Act No. 5 of 1990).

The Act establishes the basic principles and the general rules for the management, conservation and use of biological resources, natural habitats and protected areas. As this is a framework law, many of its provisions need to be completed by regulatory texts. After the general provisions (Chap. 1), it deals with life-support systems (2), the preservation of plant and animal species diversity, including their ecosystems (3), sanctuary reserves (4), the preservation of plant and animal species (5), the sustainable utilization of living resources and their ecosystems (6), nature conservation areas (7), wild species utilization (8), citizen participation (9), delegation of assistance responsibilities (10), investigation (11), punishment (12), transitional measures (13) and the concluding provisions (14). The conservation of biological resources and their ecosystems should be guided by a series of basic principles, namely (i) their sustainable, harmonious and balanced use: (ii) the enhancement of human well-being and quality of life; (iii) the protection of life-support systems, the conservation of animal and plant species diversity and their ecosystems, and the sustainable use of biological resources and their ecosystems. The protection of life-support systems aims to safeguard the ecological processes that ensure the survival of living organisms and enhance human well-being and quality of life.
Areas to protect life-support systems can be established to this effect. These must be managed in such a way that their protective function is maintained. The conservation of plant and animal species diversity must be ensured both within (in situ) and outside (ex situ) their natural habitats. In the first case, the diversity of species should be ensured in sanctuary reserves, which may be strict nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries. In the second case, the protection of the species should be ensured through their multiplication to avoid their extinction. Plants and animals are classified into two categories: protected species - which are in turn sub-divided into endangered species and rare species - and unprotected species. Apart from specific listed exceptions, protected species may not be captured, collected, displaced, killed, destroyed, transported, traded, etc. The sustained use of biological resources and their ecosystems should be implemented in two ways: by strictly maintaining the conservation function of the nature protection areas; and managing plant and animal species with due consideration to their long-term survival and the maintenance of their diversity. There are three types of nature protection areas: national park, grand forest park and natural recreation park. Research, education, the improvement of species and recreational activities are permitted, but activities likely to harm their integrity are prohibited.
People's awareness should be raised through education and extension programmes to encourage their participation in actions to conserve biological resources and their ecosystems. Those violating the provisions of the Act are liable to fines and imprisonment.