National Forests Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998)Chapter 4 : Use of ForestsPart 2 : Vesting and granting of rights to use State forests23. Activities which may be licensed in State forests |
| (1) | The Minister may in a State forest, license— |
| (a) | the establishment and management of a plantation; |
| (b) | the felling of trees and removal of timber; |
| (c) | the cutting, disturbance, damage or destruction of any other forest produce; |
| (d) | the removal or receipt of any other forest produce; |
| (e) | the use of land, structures or buildings for agricultural, commercial, communications, domestic, industrial, residential or transportation purposes; |
| (f) | the use of roads; |
| (g) | the moving of water, electricity, gas, fuel and any other thing across a State forest; |
| (h) | the construction of any road, building or structure; |
| (i) | the grazing or herding of animals; |
| (j) | the cultivation of land; |
| (k) | hunting and fishing; |
| (l) | the use of a State forest for recreational, educational, cultural or spiritual purposes where there is no right to such use under section 19; and |
| (m) | the use of a State forest for any other purpose, if it is consistent with the sustainable management of the forest. |
| (2) | No person may engage in any activity in a State forest for which a licence is required without such a licence, unless he or she— |
| (a) | is exempted under section 24 (6); |
| (b) | is acting in the scope of his or her employment or mandate as an officer, employee or agent of the Department; |
| (c) | has a right to engage in the activity in terms of the Interim Protection of informal Land Rights Act, 1996 (Act No. 31 of 1996); |
| (d) | performs the activity in terms of a contract contemplated in paragraph (b) of section 24(4). |
| (3) | An organ of State must obtain a licence to carry on an activity for which a licence is required. |