Law No. 88-20, Forestry Code, 13 April 1988.

This Law approves the Forestry Code of Tunisia. Under the Code, forest land is divided into two categories, public land and private land. With respect to public land, the General Directorate of Forests is to establish a management plan for each forest area in the country. The right to use public land is strictly controlled and generally given only to persons living in the forest for personal uses; a permit, valid for five years, must be obtained. Extraction of forest materials for use in construction is also permitted if the material is sold in public auction and a special permit is obtained. With respect to private land, the exploitation and clearing of forest land is allowed after a permit has been obtained. Granting of a permit for clearing land may be made subject to conditions involving conservation of forested areas and soil. The Code also provides that the protection of national territory from desertification and the development of "sylvo-pastoral" resources are activities of national interest and that such activities are to be supported by state loans and grants. To encourage these activities the Code creates a special fund. The Code sets penalties for infractions of its provisions, including fines and imprisonment. It also contains prohibitions on lighting fires in certain areas and in certain parts of the year. Further provisions of the Code relate to national parks, hunting, and the protection of dunes, grasslands, fauna and flora, and water areas.