Law 15939/87 (Forest Law)
Category: Legislative
Document Type: Law
Role: Main
Uruguay's Ley N° 15939 (Forest Law) Governing Forest Protection and Development
Ley N° 15939, known as the Forest Law (LEY FORESTAL), establishes the national forestry policy in Uruguay, to be formulated and executed by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries. The law aims to achieve national interest goals, including the defense, improvement, expansion, and creation of forest resources, the development of forestry industries, and fostering the growth of the forestry economy. A key prohibition is the logging of native forest. The scope of the law covers both private and state-owned forests, addressing their classification, protection, management, and sustainable utilization. It also includes provisions for promoting afforestation and supporting forestry enterprises. Key obligations and responsibilities outlined in the law include: * Promoting forest development through research, extension, and public outreach. * Planning and analyzing the development of the national forestry economy. * Encouraging afforestation on both private and public lands. * Increasing the production and distribution of plants and seeds for afforestation. * Assisting public institutions and private landowners in managing and exploiting forests sustainably. * Managing, conserving, and utilizing state-owned forest resources. * Protecting forests from diseases, pests, and other threats. * Coordinating with the National Fire Department for fire protection. The law also details aspects related to private forests (classification, potential obligatory afforestation), state forest heritage, protection measures for both private and state forests, and mechanisms for promoting afforestation, including tax benefits, financing, the establishment of a Forest Fund (FONDO FORESTAL), and the possibility of pledging forests. It also includes provisions for promoting forestry enterprises and outlines procedures, controls, and sanctions. Affected sectors include the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, private landowners, forestry industries, forestry enterprises, public institutions, and the National Fire Department. The provided text does not specify particular deadlines or compliance dates.
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Full text:
Ley N° 15939 LEY FORESTAL - FONDO FORESTAL - RECURSOS NATURALES TITULO I - DISPOSICIONES GENERALES TITULO II - BOSQUES PARTICULARESCAPITULO I - CALIFICACION Y DESLINDE CAPITULO II - FORESTACION OBLIGATORIA TITULO III - PATRIMONIO FORESTAL DEL ESTADO TITULO IV - PROTECCION DE LOS BOSQUESCAPITULO I - PROTECCION DE LOS BOSQUES PARTICULARES CAPITULO II - PROTECCION DEL PATRIMONIO FORESTAL DEL ESTADO TITULO V - FOMENTO DE LA FORESTACIONCAPITULO I - BENEFICIOS TRIBUTARIOS CAPITULO II - FINANCIAMIENTO CAPITULO III - DEL FONDO FORESTAL CAPITULO IV - PRENDA DE BOSQUES TITULO VI - FOMENTO A LAS EMPRESAS FORESTALES TITULO VII - PROCEDIMIENTOS, CONTROLES Y SANCIONES TITULO VIII - DISPOSICIONES FINALES
Tags: Afforestation, Agriculture, Ban, Biodiversity, Compliance, Deforestation, Development, Environmental Degradation, Finance, Forests, Governance, Incentive, Industry, Institutions / Administrative Arrangements, Investment, Land Use, Natural Resources, Planning, Policy, Regulation, Research, Tax, Trees
Sector: LULUCF