Forest Code (No.3852-XII of 1994).

Forest relations in Ukraine are regulated by the present Forest Code, Law on environmental protection and other legislative acts of Ukraine. The purpose of Forest Code is the regulation of legal relations with the view of ensuring raising forest productivity, forest protection and afforestation, useful qualities, satisfaction of the needs of society in forest resources on the basis of their scientifically substantiated rational use. Forest land includes forest land on which forest plots are located and non-forest land occupied by agricultural land, waterbodies and swamps, buildings, communications, unproductive land, etc., which are allotted in the prescribed manner and used for forestry needs. Forest land shall not include land on which protective forest strips are located (art. 5). The right of private ownership of forests of citizens and legal entities of Ukraine arises from the date of state registration of ownership of land. Forests inherited by foreign nationals, stateless persons and foreign legal entities are subject to expropriation within one year. (art. 13). The right to forest management shall be exercised on condition of permanent and temporary forest management (art. 16). Specialized state forestry enterprises, other state enterprises, institutions and organizations in which specialized forestry subdivisions have been established shall be granted the right of permanent forest management with the allotment of forest located on public land (art. 17). The Act consists of 10 Sections, sub-divided into 23 Chapters that contain 103 articles. Section 1 (arts. 1-22) lays down general provisions. Section 2 (arts. 23-32) regards state management and state control in the sphere of safeguarding, protection, management and afforestation. Section 3 (arts. 33-47) regards organization of forest management. Section 4 (arts. 48-80) regards management of forest resources and the use of the plots of land pertaining to the stock of forest. Section 5 (arts. 81-84) regards afforestation and raising productivity of forests. Section 6 (arts. 85-88) regards safeguarding and protection of forests and forest service. Section 7 (arts. 89-92) regards fees for the use of forest resources and for the use of the plots of land pertaining to the stock of forest, subsidies for safeguarding, protection, rational use of forest and afforestation. Section 8 (arts. 93-96) regards forest management, state registration of the stock of forest and state forest cadastre. Section 9 (arts. 97-102) regards dispute settlement in the sphere of safeguarding, protection of forests and afforestation. It also establishes liability for the infringement of forest legislation. Section 10 (art. 103) regards international cooperation.