Law No. 916-XII on protection and rational use of vegetable kingdom.

The present Law is aimed at the creation of conditions for conservation of biological diversity of flora as the basis of sustainability and stability of ecosystems and biosphere, and also for the efficient protection, rational use of renewal of vegetation, conservation and improvement of natural environment for the present and the future generations. The following species are subject to protection: 1) wild-growing plants and mushrooms in totality of species; 2) natural plant communities formed by the aforesaid wild-growing species, fruits, seeds and other products of wild-growing plants and mushrooms; 3) all plants and plant communities irrespectively of their origin on the territory of protected areas (except for hunting reserves), natural monuments, botanical gardens and other protected territories. The Law consists of 8 Sections composed of 29 articles. Section 1 (arts. 1-7) lays down general provisions. Section 2 (arts. 8 and 9) establishes the competence of the authorized state institutions in the sphere of conservation and rational management of vegetable kingdom. Section 3 (arts. 10 and 11) establishes the rights and the duties of the owners and managers of the objects of vegetable kingdom and guarantees their rights. Section 4 (arts. 12-14) regards reproduction, rise of reproduction and resistance of vegetable species. Section 5 (arts. 15-23) regards protection of vegetable kingdom. Section 6 (arts. 24 and 25) regards state control over protection and management of vegetable kingdom. Section 7 (arts. 26-28) regards dispute settlement and establishes liability. Section 8 (art. 29) regards international agreements.