Natural Environment Conservation Act, 1997.

The purpose of this Act is to conserve and manage the natural environment systematically by protecting the environment from artificial damage, preserving the diversity of the ecosystem, preventing the extinction of wild fauna and flora, etc.
The Act consists of 7 Chapters divided into 68 articles: General provisions (I); Conservation of endangered wild fauna and flora, etc. (II); Management of ecosystem conservation area (III); Conservation of biological diversity (IV); Management of living assets (V); Supplementary provisions (VI); Penal Provisions (VII).
Terms of definitions used in the Act are listed in article 2. Basic principles of conservation of the natural environment are listed in article 3 and the Minister of Environment shall draw up Basic Policies for the Conservation of the Natural Environment to implement these principles (art. 6).
The Minister of Environment shall draw up and implement a basic plan for the management of ecosystem conservation areas (art. 19). Restricted practices in ecosystem conservation areas are listed in article 20.
The Minister of Environment shall conduct a national survey of the natural environment every ten years in cooperation with the head of the competent central administrative agency (arts. 32 and 33) and shall form an ecology and nature map (art. 34). The Government shall work out and implement measures for biological diversity, for its conservation and exploitation, properly manage biological resources and carry out international conventions on the conservation of the natural environment including the Convention of Biological Diversity (art. 37).
The Act further provides for: installation of facilities for the conservation and use of the natural environment; designation and management of natural repose areas; promotion of ecological tourism; etc.