Enact No. 11 of 2000 establishing the High Council for Environment and Natural Protected Areas.

This Decree is composed of 18 articles. Article 1 provides for the establishment of the High Council for Environment and Natural Protected Areas submitted to the Heir Apparent with a juridical person and an autonomous budget. Competences and duties of the Council are the following: (a) to prepare the general policy for the protection of environment as well as the necessary plans for executing this policy; (b) to control all activities related to the protection of the environment; (c) to prepare the necessary legislation, regulations and resolutions on the protection of the environment; (d) to create the National Database and Reference Laboratory for environment; (e) to evaluate the environmental impact assessment for all projects; (f) to define the problems caused by environment pollution; and, (g) to focus on capacity building, education and training (art. 3). Articles 4-13 deal with the internal organization of the Council, meetings, the establishment of technical committees, reporting and cooperating with the concerned authorities. Article 15 contains offences and penalties.