Rwanda
Ministerial Order determining the Management of Protected State Forests not Governed by Special Laws
Ministerial Order 6-MINIRENA of 2015
- Published in Official Gazette 27 on 6 July 2015
- Assented to on 18 June 2015
- Commenced on 6 July 2015
- [This is the version of this document from 6 July 2015.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One – Purpose of this Order
This Order determines the management of protected state forests which are not governed by special laws.Article 2 – Protected forests governed by this Order
Protected forests governed by this Order shall be the following:1°a natural forest which is not governed by special laws, and;2°any forest planted alongside streams, rivers and lakes.The list of natural forests which are not governed by special laws is annexed to this Order.Chapter II
Management of protected state forest not governed by special Laws
Section One – Natural forests
Article 3 – Protection of natural forests
Natural forests which are not governed by special laws shall be protected through the following means:1°planting forests or a belt of trees in the surrounding area composed of species that are different from the main species found in the protected natural forest or by planting trees;2°use of any other possible means, in order to demarcate boundaries of protected state natural forest from the neighborhood had or any activity where planting forest or trees is not possible;3°prohibiting any activity or cutting of trees in the protected natural forest.Article 4 – Prohibition of activities in natural forests
No activity shall be allowed in a natural forest except the activity authorized by the Minister in charge of forests.Article 5 – Responsibilities of local authorities
Local authorities shall have the responsibility to safeguard natural forest in accordance with its conservation plan.Local authorities shall, each year and whenever considered necessary, submit a report on the status of management and conservation of natural forests to the Authority in charge of forests.Section 2 – Forests planted alongside streams, rivers or lakes
Article 6 – Protection of forest planted alongside streams, rivers or lakes
Any forest planted alongside stream, river or lake shall be protected from anything that may damage it.A forest planted alongside a stream, a river or a lake shall have a clear boundary to separate it from any other surrounding forests or to indicate its limits and shall be separated from any other surrounding activities.Article 7 – Activities in a forest planted alongside a stream, a river or a lake
No activity shall be allowed in a forest planted alongside a stream, a river or a lake except activities purporting its conservation.Special activities for conservation of a forest planted alongside a stream, a river or a lake shall be authorized in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.Chapter IV
Transitional and final provisions
Article 8 – Existing activities
Activities that are in conformity with this Order that existed before the coming into force of this Order shall continue to operate.Article 9 – Activities inconsistent with this Order
Existing activities that are inconsistent with provisions of this Order shall cease to operate in a period of six (6) months from the date this Order comes into force.Article 10 – Repealing provision
All prior provisions contrary to this Order are hereby repealed.Article 11 – Commencement
This Order shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.History of this document
06 July 2015 this version
Commenced
18 June 2015
Assented to