Protected Species Act, 2003.

This Act grants powers to the Minister responsible for conservation services to issue an Order declaring any species of plant or animal to be a protected species and to declare habitats to be protected areas for protected species. The Act further provides for the issuing of licences for activities involving protected species and defines offences.
The Minister shall make public his or her intention to declare protected species or protected areas and shall obtain the best scientific information available before issuing an Order. The Minister may design any terrestrial or marine habitat which is essential to the conservation of protected species ("critical habitat") to be a protected area for purposes of this Act. If a protected area is privately owned, the Minister may enter into an agreement with the owner for the protection and the management of the habitat of the protected species. The Minister shall, in respect of each protected species, develop and publish a recovery plan in accordance with this Act. The Minister may issue licences for selected activities in protected areas such as research and repopulation.