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National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998)

Chapter 4 : Use of Forests

Part 1 : Access for recreation and related purposes

21. Access to forests other than State forests

 

(1) The Minister, in his other capacity as trustee of the Trust, may take steps to promote the voluntary grant of access to forests other than State forests by the registered owners of such forests.

 

(2) The registered owner may lodge with the Minister a map displaying clearly the areas designated for public access and a set of written rules recording the conditions on which he or she is prepared to allow access.

 

(3) At the request of—
(a) person seeking access to a forest other than a State forest; or
(b) a registered owner of such a forest,

the Minister may negotiate, or appoint a facilitator from the panel referred to in section 45 to facilitate negotiations, with interested parties with a view to determining whether and on what terms a registered owner of such a forest is willing to grant access to the public.

 

(4) Where the Minister is of the opinion that it is justified and affordable, he or she may—
(a) provide financial or other assistance from the Trust funds for the development of an area of public access in a forest other than a State forest;
(b) compensate a registered owner of such a forest from the Trust funds for losses caused by the grant of access to the public in such a forest.

 

(5) No person who is granted access to a forest other than a State forest may interfere with the privacy or cause damage to the property of the registered owner.