Law No. 761 “Forest Code”.

This Forest Code establishes that its provisions shall be applicable to the unified national forest fund, including land of public forest, unforested land, forest resources and beneficial properties of forest irrespectively of land tenure. Forest resources shall be managed and protected with the consideration of multifunctional value of forests, as well as recognition of them as the main means of production in forestry sector. The forest legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan is based on the following principles: (a) government regulation and control; (b) preservation of biodiversity of forests, natural reserves and areas of natural and cultural heritage; (c) sustainable forest management, for the development and sustainable use of forest resources on the basis of forest management planning; (d) compensation for damage to forest and hunting due to the infringement of acting legislation; (e) availability of information on the state of the forest fund; (f) economic principles and payment for use of forest resources; (g) public participation in the conservation, protection, reproduction and sustainable use of the forest fund; (h) recognition of the national importance of forests performing climate-regulating, environment-forming, soil-protective, water protection and other protective functions. All forests located on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as lands of the state forest fund, regardless of the forms of economic activity, shall form unified forest fund. The unified forest fund includes the state forest fund and the public forest fund. The state forest fund includes natural forests, regardless of their land tenure, forests of artificial origin, which are under the jurisdiction of state bodies, as well as unforested land, which are provided for the needs of forestry. The public forest fund includes forests of artificial origin, planted at the expense of the funds of dekhkan (agricultural) farms, production cooperatives, legal entities, and also at the expense of other non-state economic entities. Forest fund of the Republic of Tajikistan shall be protected from fires, felling and hunting, from harmful insects and other pests that are harmful to the forest. State Forest Service shall be subordinated to the authorized state forest institution and its staff shall be attributed the competence of forest inspectors. The objective of forest management shall be enforcement of legal and technical requirements of rational use of forest resources. State forest fund shall be subject to mandatory inventory, registration and periodical (once in 5 years) monitoring. This Forest Code consists of IX Sections sub-divided into XVI Chapters composed of 75 Articles. Section I is general part. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Section II regards state management and control of forests. Chapter II regards state management and control of forest fund. Section III regards guardianship and protection of forests. Chapter III regards guardianship and protection of forest fund. Chapter IV regards State Forest Service. Chapter V establishes the particulars of guardianship, protection, reproduction and sustainable use of forests. Section IV regards organization of forestry sector. Chapter VI establishes tasks and requirements of organization of forestry sector. Section V regards state forest inventory. Chapter VII regards state forest inventory and forest planning. Section VI regards afforestation, reforestation and raising forest productivity. Chapter VIII regards afforestation and reforestation. Section VII establishes the right of forest ownership. Chapter IX regards forest ownership. Section VIII regards forest uses. Chapter X establishes the criteria for joint forest management. Chapter XI establishes the right of forest use. Chapter XII regards management of forest fund. Section IX establishes economic mechanisms of forest management. Chapter XIII regards forestry economy. Chapter XIV regards financing of forestry sector. Chapter XV regards international cooperation. Chapter XVI lays down final provisions.