Forest Law

The Law gives ultimate powers to the Commissioner for Agriculture of Enugu State to carry out the mandate of the legislation. It starts off with general provisions which enable the Commissioner to exempt any person, group or tribe of persons from the operation of the legislation. The Commissioner also has the prerogative to delegate his powers. The Law provides for the appointment of forest officers, to enforce the provisions of the Law. The Commissioner has the power to constitute forest reserves and declare as protected forests any lands at the disposal of the government and any lands in respect of which it appears to the Commissioner that the forest growth on such lands should be protected or reserved, or forest growth be established. The Law also provides that rights in forest reserves may not be alienated by a person or community, by sale, transfer or mortgage, without the consent of the Commissioner, and that such an alienation would be null and void. Furthermore, the law contains extensive provisions on the administration, protection, control and management of forest reserves and protected forest, which are placed directly under the control of the Commissioner. The Law requires that the working plan for the respective administration and control be made public. In addition, the Commissioner may make regulations necessary for the administration of forest reserves and protected forests including regulations on management, protection and utilization of forest reserves, the protection of forest produce in forest reserves, regulating the kindling of forest fires, etc. The Law contains penal provisions whose enforcement are chiefly placed under the auspices of the forest officers.