Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2019.

This Act amends the Forestry Act (Principal Act) in several sections. In particular it provides a new discipline for the co-management of forest reserves (section 25) for the principal purpose of forestry conservation. The Act recognizes the opportunity to enter in co-agreement with the Director of Forestry to local communities, the local government authorities, non-governmental organizations or private sector partners. The Director of Forestry shall only enter into an agreement if (a) the agreement does not perm it the extraction of natural resources for commercial purposes; (b) the uses in the agreement are lawful and the other party has obtained the necessary permit or Iicences; (c) tile uses in the agreement are specifically described in an existing management plan for the area.
Section 36 (forest plantation agreement) is replaced as well and establishes that Minister may authorize the Director of Forestry to enter into a forest plantation agreement with a non-governmental organization, local community or private party to plant trees in public land. The agreement shall only permit the growing and management of the tree species specified in the agreement and convey the right to harvest the forest plantation in accordance with the terms of the agreement; shall specify the obligations of the parties; and only allow the other party to utilize the land for commercial purposes. of planting, managing and harvesting trees, if certain conditions are met.
Other sections replaced include: section 64 offences related to forest reserves and protected forest areas; section 65 offences related to fires; section 72 offences relating to deposition of litter and waste; and section 81 charcoal licensing.