Abrogation of The Rights Of Customary Land Owners by the Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act

Abstract

The Forests and Timber Act1 was passed in 1969, repealing the Forests Act of 1960. By an amendment in 19843 the Act became known as the Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act. The purpose of the Act, as stated in the Long Title, is: To consolidate and amend the law relating to Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation and to control and regulate the timber industry and for matters incidental thereto and connected therewith. Since its passing, the 1969 Act has been amended several times, the first significant amendments being made in 1977, by the Forests and Timber (Amendment) Act 1977. This introduced a distinction between the procedures which must be followed when seeking a licence to fell on customary land and when seeking a licence in other cases.8 Where customary land is involved, it provided that, before any such grant was made, an agreement had to be entered into by the applicant with those persons entitled to grant timber rights.