Section 2, The Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2022

Section 28 of the Forestry Act, 1988 is amended byrepealing and replacing that section with the following new section- 28. (1) A person who, without lawful authority, cuts, burns, uproots, damages or destroys a tree, removes timber or other forest produce, clears land, builds a road or structure, takes cork, clay sand, gravel or stone, cultivates crop, grazes animal,or conducts forest operation, in a national, commercial or community forest, commits an not less than Le15,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to (2) A person who, without lawful authority, cuts, burns, up-roots, damages, or destroys vegetation in a national, commercial, or community forest, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than Le10,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (3) A person who, without lawful authority, cuts, burns, uproots, damages or destroys a protected tree in a national, commercial or community forest, commits an not less than Le15,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to (4) A person who, without lawful authority, destroys, moves or alters a boundary mark placed by the authority of the 2 3 Amendment of Section 1 of Act No.7 of 1988. Amendment of Section 28 of Act No.7 of 1988. "Offences. No. The Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2022 No. The Forestry (Amendment) Act, 20224 5 Director of Forestry to mark an area for the purpose of this Act, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than Le10,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (5) A person who, knowingly and falsely represents that a wood or wood product has been graded or meets standard grading rules, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than Le 30, 000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (6) A person who, counterfeits or unlawfully affixes to a forest produce, a mark used by forest officers to indicate that such product is the property of the Government or that it may be lawfully felled, taken or extracted, or that it has been inspected or graded in any category, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not less than Le15,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to both such fine and imprisonment. (7) A person who, without lawful authority, makes, uses or possesses a brand, stamp or mark used by forest officers for official purposes under this Act, commits an not less than Le30,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to (8) A person who knowingly makes false or incorrect statement, report or entry of an information required under this Act or regulations made hereunder, commits an not less than Le10,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or to (9) A person who, obstructs or hinders a forest officer in the exercise of his powers and duties under this Act, commits an not less than Le10,000,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or to both such fine and imprisonment."