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Forestry Law of The People's Republic of China (1998).

Country/Territory
China
Document type
Legislation
Date
1984
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Forestry
Keyword
Basic legislation Public forest Forest management/forest conservation Policy/planning Afforestation/reforestation Forestry protection measures Timber extraction/logging Dispute settlement Special fund Authorization/permit Community management
Geographical area
Asia, ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, East Asian Seas, Eastern Asia, North Pacific, North-West Pacific
Entry into force notes
Entry into force on 1 January 1985.
Abstract

This Law is formulated in order to protect, cultivate and utilize rationally the forest resources in China. Forests in China are owned by whole people, or by collectives, or the trees owned and forest land used by individuals. The forestry department under the State Council shall be responsible for forestry work throughout the country. The forestry departments of the people's governments at the county level and above shall be responsible for forestry work in their respective areas. Full-time or part-time posts shall be set up in people's governments at the township level to take charge of forestry work. Disputes settlement mentioned in Article 17. The state shall adopt the measures to protect forest resources, e.g. quotas shall be imposed on tree felling; a forestry funding system shall be established. In chapter III, there are provisions regarding prevention of forest fires and prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests in the forests. Hunting of wild animals in the forest areas shall be forbidden. Any tree cutting operation must observe the provisions of the cutting licence, but exceptions shall be made for rural inhabitants who want to cut down scattered trees belonging to them and growing on their private plots and around their houses. The area of reforestation and the number of trees to be planted must be larger than the cutting area and the number of trees already cut. The minority nationalities in autonomous areas have greater decision-making power and more economic benefits than other areas in forestry development, timber distribution and use of the forest fund. The organs of self-government may formulate adoptive or supplementary provisions according to the principle of this Law, together with the characteristics of the autonomous areas. The provisions shall be submitted to the standing committee of the provincial or autonomous regional people's congress or to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for approval before they are implemented.

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