Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988 (Act No. 6 of 1988).

This Act, consisting of 91 sections divided into ten Chapters and one Schedule, aims to consolidate the law relating to forests, forest produce, water courses and road reserve and for related matters. The Government may declare any land as a reserved forest. Whenever it is proposed to declare any land as a reserved forest, the Government shall issue a notification specifying therein: a) that it has been decided to declare such land as a reserved forest; b) as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such land; and c) the appointment of the Forest Settlement Officer to enquire and determine the existence, nature and extent of any rights relating to collection of dry sticks and grazing alleged in favour of any person in or over any land comprised within such limits or over any forest produce. In addition, the Act establishes that any cattle trespassing in a reserved forest or in any portion of a khasmal forest or gorucharan forest or slip reserve or road reserve or river banks which has been closed by the Government for grazing shall be seized and impounded by any forest officer.
The Act is divided as follows: Chapter 2 lists Reserved Forests; Chapter 3 regulates the khasmal and gorucharan forests; Chapter 4 deals with the Protection of River Banks, Slip Reserve, Road Reserve, etc. Chapter 5 establishes Control and Management over Private Forests or lands not being the property of Government. Chapter 6 regulates the Transit of Forest Produce establishing the control of all rivers and their banks as regards floating of timber as well as the control of all timber and other forest produce in transit by land or water, is vested in the Government and it may make rules to regulate the transit of all timbers and other forest produce. Chapter 7 deals with the Collection of Drift and Stranded Timber; Chapter 8 regulates the Cattle Trespass; Chapter 9 lists Penalties and Procedures and Chapter 10 Miscellaneous.