Act No. XXXVII of 2009 on forests, on the protection and management of forests. Country/Territory Hungary Document type Legislation Date 2009 (2023) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Forestry, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Framework law Basic legislation Forest management/forest conservation Policy/planning Afforestation/reforestation Timber extraction/logging Forest service/forest officers Offences/penalties Authorization/permit Inventory Certification Forest fires Pests/diseases Protection forest Recreational forest Private forest Public forest Classification/declassification Forestry protection measures Transport/storage Soil conservation/soil improvement Planting material/seeds Royalties/fees Collecting/harvesting Education Geographical area Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries Abstract This Act provides a comprehensive frame for forestry management and forest protection. It is considered the most rigorous forest act in Europe. The Act is divided into thirteen sections. The objective of the Act is, through the regulation of the relation between forests and the society, and, in particular, through the determination of sustainable requirements of forest management, to assure the maintenance, the protection, the growth, and the increase of its positive effects on the environment, the society and the economy. In Section I, general rules regarding forests and forest management are set out. Forests must be divided into planning districts. These are the units with regard to planning and monitoring of sustainable forest managing activities. Forests are registered in the National Forest Database. Forest manager (the proprietor or the user) are also registered. The Act foresees also the establishment of the National Forest Council that is an opinion and proposal maker body. Section II deals with the destination and operational mode of forests. Forests are to be classified with regard to their primary destination: protection, public welfare and economic use. Section III regulates forest planning and the reporting-authorization system of forestry activity. Section IV regards forestation. Section V provides rules for the restoration, bringing-up and restructuring of forests. Prevention and protection against harms (caused by pests, wildlife, harmful activities, fire) to forests and the soil are rules in Section VI. Section VII regards profitable activities in forests, such as timber extraction, collection of propagating material, collection of galipot. In Section IX on the use of forests for transporting and on the visiting of forest, contains an important title regarding the certification of origin of timber. Section X provides rules on professional governance of forestry works, forest workers and on the forest guarding service. Forest administration is provided for in Section XI. Penalties are set forth in Section XII. Full text English Website njt.hu References - Legislation Repeals Law No. LIV of 1996 on forests and their protection. Legislation | Hungary | 1996 (1997) Keyword: Basic legislation, Forest management/forest conservation, Policy/planning, Afforestation/reforestation, Timber extraction/logging, Forest service/forest officers, Institution, Offences/penalties, Royalties/fees, Management/conservation, Collecting/harvesting, Education Source: FAO, FAOLEX Implemented by Decree No. 153 of 2009 (XI.13.) FVM of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development implementing Act No. XXXVII of 2009 on forests, and on the protection and management of forests. Legislation | Hungary | 2009 (2014) Keyword: Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Afforestation/reforestation, Authorization/permit, Data collection/reporting, Enforcement/compliance, Forest management/forest conservation, Forest service/forest officers, Forestry protection measures, Inventory, Land clearing, Timber extraction/logging, Marking/identification, Monitoring, Non-timber products, Pests/diseases, Policy/planning, Private forest, Public forest, Registration, Timber, Forest fires, Planting material/seeds, Royalties/fees, Collecting/harvesting Source: FAO, FAOLEX Decree No. 143 of 2009 (VII. 6.) Korm. of the Government on the scale and method of calculation of the forestry penalty and the forest protection penalty. Legislation | Hungary | 2009 (2015) Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Offences/penalties Source: FAO, FAOLEX Decree No. 24 of 2012 (III. 9.) VM of the Ministry of Rural Development concerning the harvesting of subterranean mushrooms. Legislation | Hungary | 2012 (2012) Keyword: Authorization/permit, Food quality control/food safety, Data collection/reporting, Contract/agreement, Forest species, Non-timber products, Collecting/harvesting, Seasons Source: FAO, FAOLEX Decree No. 11 of 2010 (II. 4.) FVM of the Ministry of Rural Development laying down the rules of drafting of the forest management plan regulation and the preparation of district forsetry plans. Legislation | Hungary | 2010 (2015) Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Policy/planning, Access-to-information, EIA, Public participation Source: FAO, FAOLEX Amended by Act No. CCXII of 2013 laying down certain provisions and transition rules in connection with Act No CXXII of 2013 concerning agricultural and forestry land trade. Legislation | Hungary | 2013 (2014) Keyword: Agricultural land, Land tenure, Lease, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Ownership, Private land, Property rights, Public land, Right of use, Servitude, Transfer, Contract/agreement, Common property, Authorization/permit, Cadastre/land registration, Land commission, Smallholders/peasants, Size, Cooperative/producer organization Source: FAO, FAOLEX