Government Regulation no. 23 of 2021 about Forestry Management.

This Government Regulation, consisting of 302 articles, implements the provision of articles 36 and 185 letter b, of the Act no. 11 of 2020 regarding job creation, and aims at regulating: forestry planning; changes in designation and functions of forest areas; use of forest areas; forest management and preparation of management plan; social forestry management; forest protection. The following relevant terms are defined: forest, forest area, State forest, private forest, customary forest, conservation forest, protection of forest, convertible production forest, nature reserve forest area, forestry planning, inauguration of forest area, demarcation of forest area boundaries, forest management unit, watershed, use of forest area, integrated research, forest management, forest utilisation, timber and non-timber forest product utilisation, business permit and licensing, silvicultural system, reforestation fund, social forestry, community forest.
Concerning forestry planning, the Regulation includes and specifies the following activities: forest inventory, inauguration and management of forest areas, establishment of forest management area, preparation of forestry plans. Concerning changes in forest areas and in their functions, the Regulation empowers the Minister to make the necessary changes taking into account the results of the integrated research. Concerning the use of forest areas, the Regulation provides for its application for the development of activities outside the forestry area and in compliance with environmental sustainability. Concerning forest management and preparation of management plan, it is implemented in order to obtain more sustainable community benefits. The Regulation implements social forestry management, in order to achieve forest sustainability, community welfare, environmental balance. Concerning forest protection, the activity is carried out on forest management area, on private forest area and on areas outside the forest area, in order to: prevent and limit forest damages caused by human actions, livestock, fire, natural events, pests; defend the interests of the State and the communities; improve environmental restoration. The Regulation also provides for supervision activities, application of administrative sanctions, and general provisions.