Prime Minister's Order on Recognition of Tenure Rights in Forestlands.

This Order establishes clear requirements for recognizing and formalizing tenure rights of individuals, households, and communities living in or using forestlands. It aims to implement the Land Law and Forestry Law by identifying eligible groups, documenting customary use, and ensuring that rights are granted in a transparent and equitable manner. It emphasizes recognition of long-term settlers, ethnic communities, and smallholder farmers in protection, conservation, and production forests, provided their activities align with forest management policies.
The Order outlines practical steps for provincial and district authorities, including surveying land use, classifying tenure types, issuing temporary or permanent certificates, and integrating recognized rights into forest management plans. The Order prohibits allocating forestland to investors before local rights are identified and respected. Authorities must ensure that recognized tenure supports livelihoods, reduces land conflicts, and contributes to sustainable forest protection.