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

Chapter 3 : Special Measures to Protect Forests and Trees

Part 1 : Prohibition of destruction of natural forests

7. Prohibition against destruction in natural forests

[Section 7 heading substituted by section 3(a) of the National Forests Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 1 of 2022), Notice No. 1131, GG46650, dated 1 July 2022 - effective 4 December 2024 per Commencement Proclamation 233 of 2024]

 

(1) No person may—
(a) cut, disturb, damage, or destroy any indigenous tree or any other indigenous vegetation in a natural forest;
(b) possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any tree, forest product derived from a tree contemplated in paragraph (a), other indigenous vegetation or any forest product derived from vegetation contemplated in paragraph (a),
(i) a licence issued tinder subsection (4) or section 23; or
(ii) an exemption from the provisions of this subsection published by the Minister in the Gazette on the advice of the Council.

[Section 7(1)(a) and (b) substituted by section 3(b) of the National Forests Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 1 of 2022), Notice No. 1131, GG46650, dated 1 July 2022 - effective 4 December 2024 per Commencement Proclamation 233 of 2024]

 

(2) The Minister may declare to be a natural forest a group of indigenous trees—
(a) whose crowns are not largely contiguous; or
(b) where there is doubt as to whether or not their crowns are largely contiguous,

if he or she is of the opinion, based on scientific advice, that the trees make up a forest which needs to be protected in terms of this Part.

 

(3) The Minister declares a forest to be a natural forest by—
(a) publishing a notice in the Gazette;
(b) publishing a notice in two newspapers circulating in the area; and
(c) airing a notice on two radio stations broadcasting to the area.

 

(4) The Minister may license one or more of the activities referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (12).

 

(5) If a person is in breach of subsection 1(a), the Minister may, by written notice—
(a) inform that person of the—
(i) nature of the alleged breach;
(ii) steps which the person must take to prevent or to redress the said breach; and
(iii) period within which he or she must take the steps referred to in paragraph (ii); and
(b) in addition to any penalties in terms of section 63(2)
(i) direct the said person to take the steps referred to in subsection (5)(a)(ii) to prevent further damage or to redress the said breach; and
(ii) determine the period within which he or she must take the steps referred to in subparagraph (i).

[Section 7(5) inserted by section 3(c) of the National Forests Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 1 of 2022), Notice No. 1131, GG46650, dated 1 July 2022 - effective 4 December 2024 per Commencement Proclamation 233 of 2024]

 

(6) If the person fails to comply with the directive within the period determined under subsection (5)(b)(ii), the Minister may—
(i) take reasonable steps to remedy the situation;
(ii) recover consequential damage or costs from the person concerned; and
(iii) approach a competent court for relief.

[Section 7(6) inserted by section 3(c) of the National Forests Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 1 of 2022), Notice No. 1131, GG46650, dated 1 July 2022 - effective 4 December 2024 per Commencement Proclamation 233 of 2024]