NATIONAL FORESTS ACT NO. 84 OF 1998 [ASSENTED TO 20 OCTOBER, 1998] [DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 APRIL, 1999] (Unless otherwise indicated) (English text signed by the President) ACTTo reform the law on forests; to repeal certain laws; and to provide for related matters. Preamble.--Parliament recognises that-- everyone has the constitutional right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations;natural forests and woodlands form an important part of that environment and need to be conserved and developed according to the principles of sustainable management;plantation forests play an important role in the economy;plantation forests have an impact on the environment and need to be managed appropriately;the State's role in forestry needs to change; andthe economic, social and environmental benefits of forests have been distributed unfairly in the past.Parliament therefore enacts the following law: ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS...