Section 1: In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires –

“Authority” means the National Protected Area Authority established by section 2; “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Authority; “Board of Trustees “ means the Board of Trustees appointed under section 20; “buffer zone” means The area of land one mile in width surrounding each National Protected Area, “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board; “CITIES” mean Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; “Executive–Director” means the Executive–Director of the Authority; “Fund” means the Conservation Trust Fund established under section 19 which has as its objective, amongst other things, financing the establishment and operation and effective management of the National Protected Area Authority and biodiversity conservation in Sierra Leone generally; “GIS” means Geographic Information System; “Government” means the Government of Sierra Leone; “National Protected Area” means any National Protected Area constituted by the Minister under section 26. “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Agriculture and Forestry and “Ministry” shall be construed accordingly; and “REDD” means Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. PART II – NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA AUTHORITY AND CONSERVATION TRUST FUND