NATIONAL FORESTS ACT, 84 OF 1998: PUBLICATION OF THE ANNUAL LIST OF ALL TREE SPECIES WHICH ARE PROTECTED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE ACT
Notice Title: National Forests Act, 84 of 1998 (“NFA”): Publication of the annual list of all tree species which are protected under section 12 of the Act
Government Notice: GN 4496 in GG 50291 on 13 March 2024
Commencing date: 13 March 2024
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, under section 16(3) of the NFA, publish the list of all protected tree species.
The trees are declared protected in terms of section 12 of the NFA, and the effect of the declaration in terms of section 15(1) of the NFA, is as follows:
“(1) No person may –
(a) cut, disturb, damage or destroy any protected tree; or
(b) possess, collect, remove, transport, export, purchase, sell, donate or in any other manner acquire or dispose of any protected tree, or any forest product derived from a protected tree, except –
(i) under a licence granted by the Minister; or
(ii) in terms of an exemption from the provisions of this subsection published by the Minister in the Gazette on the advice of the Council.”
In terms of section 62(2)(c) of the NFA, any person who contravenes section 15(1) of the Act, commits a first category offence. In terms of section 58(1) of the NFA, a person who is guilty of a first category offence may be sentenced to a fine or imprisonment for a period of up to three years, or to a fine and such imprisonment.
For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.
For more information or assistance please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za.
