Decision No. 267 concerning procedures regulating proposal and declaration of protected and buffer zones

DECISION No. 267 dated 24. 04. 2003 CONCERNING PROCEDURES REGULATING PROPOSAL AND DECLARATION OF PROTECTED AND BUFFER ZONES Based on article 100 of the Constitution and point 2 of artjcle 13 of Law No. 8906 dated 6. 06. 2002 "On protected zones" upon proposal from the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Agriculture and Food, the Council of Ministers, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 1. To endorse procedures for regulating proposal and declaration of protected and buffer zones as follows: a) The Ministry of the Environment compiles the plans for the declaration of protected zones. The plans should define the zones to be placed under protection, the conditions, boundaries and proposed scale of protection for each one of them. b) The plan is compiled in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Territorial Regulation and Tourism, the respective local governments, scientific­ research institutes and environmental non-profit organizations. c) Any state structure or institution, central of local, physical or legal person, non-profit organization and/or community has the right to submit to the Ministry of Environment proposals for protected zones, tor changes in or withdrawal of the protected zone status, the expansion or reduction of boundaries and the internal zoning of such zones. d) When declaring a protected zone, consideration should be given to the network of protected zones contained in the strategy and the action plan on biodiversity. e) Before publishing the plan on protected zones, a one month lead time should be assigned for suggestions and objections that may be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment. f) Upon expiration of the lead-time, provided there have been no suggestions and/or objections, the plan is considered valid. Based on this plan, the Ministry starts procedures for the preparation and presentation of draft decisions to declare the protected zones. 2. In the case of one zone declared protected, the Ministry should define primarily its status, boundaries and internal zoning, as well as its surrounding buffer zones, the administration staff and line of dependence, opportunities for utilization and exploitation of the zone, revenue that may be created and manner of utilization of such revenue based on regional developmental studies. 173 174 3. The Ministry of the Environment publicly announces the endorsed protected zones, natural monuments, protected trees, especially protected plants arid animals, mineral and paleontological discoveries while defining in detail th~ conditions for their protection. 4. In relation to protected zones declared before the entrance into force of L.aw No. 8906 dated 6. 06. 2002 "On protected zones", the Ministry of Environ~ ment in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food takes steps to adjust their status in accordance with the requirements of this law. 5. The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food are charged with the implementation of this law. This decision enters into force following its publication in the Official Journal PRIME MINISTER Fatos Nano