Section 10: Amendment of order declaring local forest reserve

(1) The Minister shall, before amending an order declaring a local forest reserve, comply with the procedure for declaring a local forest reserve prescribed by section 9. (2) Where an amendment to an order declaring a local forest reserve will result- (a) in the reduction of part of the local forest reserve, an area at least equivalent in size to the reduction shall be simultaneously declared a local forest reserve; or (b) in the removal of the whole forest reserve, an area at least equivalent in size to the abolished reserve shall be simultaneously declared a local forest reserve. (3) Before a new area is declared a local forest reserve in terms of subsection (2), the environmental impact assessment must find the area to be of equivalent or greater environmental value. (4) An order declaring a local forest reserve shall be revoked only where- (a) soil, slope, or other watershed conditions will not be irreversibly damaged; (b) an environmental impact assessment carried out in respect of the proposed new land use of the area finds that the same area can be adequately reforested within five years after harvest or clearance of the land, should the area subsequently be the subject of a new declaration as a local forest reserve; (c) protection is provided for streams, rivers, lakes, lake shores, river banks, wetlands and wildlife from detrimental changes in temperature, or from erosion, pollution, degradation, deposit of sediments, and desertification in areas where the proposed new land use is likely to seriously and adversely affect habitats or the environment; and (d) maintenance of animal and plant indicator species within the area is assured. (5) An amendment to an order declaring a local forest reserve shall be approved by Parliament, signified by its resolution.