Forest Code.

The present Forest Code regulates forest relations and is aimed at the creation of conditions for rational use, reproduction, conservation and protection thereof and rising ecological and economic potential of the forests. Forests pertain to the exclusive state property (art. 1). All the forests form state forest stock that consists of public forest managed by state forest service, forest pertaining to collective farms allotted thereto on condition of permanent management and forest situated on reserve land (art. 3). The forests shall be classified in three categories: 1) water protection forest, protection forest and recreational forest; 2) forest of densely populated areas; 3) forest allotted for timber extraction (art. 5). State control over use, reproduction, conservation and protection of forest shall be carried out by the local administration and by the Ministry of Nature Management and Environmental Protection (art. 13). Forest monitoring is the system of observation, valuation and prognostication of the state and of the dynamics of state forest stock for the purpose of its efficient management, use, reproduction, conservation and protection (art. 14). Citizens have the right to stay in forests free of charge for recreation and tourism (art. 19). Rates of forest management shall be established within scientifically substantiated limits determined in conformity with forest inventory (art. 21). State forest cadastre shall be kept for the purpose of registration of state forest stock (art. 24). The Law consists of 12 Sections composed of 37 articles.