Forestry Act, No. 26 of 2001, Consolidated 2006 (Vanuatu)

The Forestry Act provides for the protection, development and sustainable management of forests and the regulation of the forestry industry in Vanuatu. The Act covers planning for the forestry sector, the requirements for carrying out commercial forestry operations on any land, protection of the forest environment, reforestation and export of timber. The Act establishes the Forests Board of Vanuatu, whose main task is to supervise the negotiations for timber rights agreements. The Act specifically provides for the preparation of the Forestry Sector Plan. 

It specifies certain principles of forestry administration which must guide the exercise of powers and functions under the act. The principles are: 

• The forests of Vanuatu must be sustainably managed, developed and protected so as to achieve greater social, environmental and economic benefits for current and future generations.
• The diversity of the forests and forest ecosystems of Vanuatu must be protected.
• The rights of custom owners and other Ni-Vanuatu with customary interests in forests must be recognized.
• Any relevant international obligations undertaken by Vanuatu must be respected.