Ecolex Logo
The gateway to
environmental law
Search results » Legislation

Law No. LIV of 1996 on forests and their protection.

Country/Territory
Hungary
Document type
Legislation
Date
1996 (1997)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Original source
Jurix Collection of Hungarian Rules of Law, WWW, Hungary.
Subject
Forestry, Wild species & ecosystems
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
Geographical area
Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries
Abstract

This Act shall be applied in accordance with separate legal rules pertaining to the conservation of nature, arable land, soil, plant protection and hunting. In the interest of extending the national forest domain and also in order to improve environmental conditions the State supports the plantating of new forests as well as the maintenance and conservation of existing forests. Forest lands shall be divided into forestry planning districts which shall be the basic units for planning and supervising sustainable forestry activities. Forests shall be divided into forest plots and forest sections. "Forest manager" is defined as the forest owner or lawful user performing forestry activities. In case of State-owned forests constituting treasury assets the forestry authority shall register the administrator of the treasury assets as forest manager. The forest manager may initiate, in accordance with a separate agreement concluded with the owner of the land, the modification of the primary purpose of the forest, forest plantation, afforestation and exploitation of forest land. Section II regulates primary users of forests (i.e. protection, commercial, recreation, tourism, research and education). Section III deals with forest planning and administration. The planning of long-term sustainable forestry activities shall be ensured by ten-year district plans, ten-year forestry operational plans, annual forestry plans, with the support of the National Forestry Data Base. The Minister shall arrange, in accordance with other interested ministers, the harmonization between the district forest plan and the long-term regional game husbandry plan. Section IV lays down provisions for forest planting and afforestation. Afforestation, forest cultivation, and the modification of species balance in forests are provided for in section V. Section VI deals with the protection against harmful effects (i.e. animal and plant pests, game, harmful activities, forest fires, natural phenomena). Section VII provides for forest usufructs (i.e. wood-felling and cutting, collection of forestry propagating stock, hunting rights, collection of dead wood and twigs, of pine branches, fir cones and ornamental branches from felled trees, of mushrooms, wild fruits, moss, flowers and herbs, production of sticks, reed, sedge, bulrush and the cutting of grass, apiary activities, and collection of pine-resin). Section VIII provides for the subdivision and use of forest land. Farming on forest land, permanent or temporary withdrawal of forest land from production and the utilization of forest, in such a manner so as to prevent its proper use, are all examples of utilization of forest land. Preliminary permission of the forestry authority is required for the utilization of forest land. Forest land plots may be withdrawn from production in exceptional cases only and may be divided into two or more land sections only with the preliminary consent of the forestry authority and only when it does not endanger long-term sustainability. Section IX regulates the transportation of forestry products, their certification of origin and the use of forests for recreation and sports. Section X deals with the professional management of forestry works and with the forest guard service. Forestry administration is provided for in Section XI and duties shall be carried out by the Minister, the national forestry authority and its regional branches (state forestry service). The Minister may establish a National Forestry Board to advise and propose actions on matters concerning responsibilities. Section XII provides for forest maintenance contributions and penalties. Contributions shall be paid into an account specified in a separate order by the forest manager at the rates specified in the annex to this Act. By Resolution of the forestry authority the forest manager shall be obliged to pay a penalty if any one of the listed offences occurs (art. 102). Forest visitors are subject to penalties if they infringe forest protection regulations.

Full text
English

References - Legislation

Amends

Law No. XLIX of 1994 on forest owners' associations.

Legislation | Hungary | 1994 (2009)

Keyword: Non-governmental entity, Private forest, Forest management/forest conservation, Right of use

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Law No. II of 1992 on the entry into force of Law No. I of 1992 on cooperatives and on rules of transition.

Legislation | Hungary | 1992 (2012)

Keyword: Cooperative/producer organization, Agricultural land, Basic legislation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 44 of 1991 of the Government regarding county (capital) agricultural offices and amending certain rules of law determining the duties of the agricultural administration.

Legislation | Hungary | 1991 (1998)

Keyword: Institution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Repeals

Law No. VII of 1961 on forest and wildlife management and its implementing Decree No. 73 of 1981 of the Cabinet on the management of forests and wildlife.

Legislation | Hungary | 1961 (1997)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Policy/planning, Forest management/forest conservation, Concession, Institution, Afforestation/reforestation, Timber extraction/logging, Forest service/forest officers, Classification/declassification, Authorization/permit, Cooperative/producer organization, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Cadastre/land registration, Management/conservation, Hunting authorization/permit, Hunting/capture

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Implemented by

Decree No. 29 of 1997 of the Ministry of Agriculture on forests and their protection.

Legislation | Hungary | 1997 (2002)

Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Policy/planning, Afforestation/reforestation, Subsidy/incentive, Timber extraction/logging, Non-timber products, Timber, Access-to-information, Authorization/permit

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 37 of 1996 of the Ministry of Agriculture on the establishment and organization of the National Forestry Service.

Legislation | Hungary | 1996 (2000)

Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Timber extraction/logging, Institution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 91 of 1997 of the Ministry of Agriculture on forestry planting materials.

Legislation | Hungary | 1997

Keyword: Ecosystem preservation, International trade, Internal trade, Standards, Planting material/seeds

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 88 of 2000 (XI. 10.)FVM of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development laying down the Forestry Planning Regulation

Legislation | Hungary | 2000 (2011)

Keyword: Forest management/forest conservation, Policy/planning, Afforestation/reforestation, Inspection, Survey/mapping

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

Act No. CXXIII of 2007 on expropriation.

Legislation | Hungary | 2007 (2023)

Keyword: Contract/agreement, Expropriation, Land tenure, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Liability/compensation, Ownership, Transfer

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Repealed by

Act No. XXXVII of 2009 on forests, on the protection and management of forests.

Legislation | Hungary | 2009 (2023)

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

Source: FAO, FAOLEX