Law No. 8906 for protected areas

REPUBLIC Of ALBANIA ASSEMBLY LAW No.8906, dated 6.6.2002 FOR PROTECTED AREAS In, reliance with Articles 78, 81 paragraph 1 and Article 83 paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and on the proposal of the Council of Ministers, THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA DECIDED: Article 1 Object of the Law The object of this law is the declaration, preservation, administrations, management and usage of protected areas and their natural and biological resources; the facilitation of conditions for the development of environmental tourism, for the information and education of the general public and for economic profits, direct or indirect, by the local population, by the public [state] and private sector. Article 2 Purpose of the Law 1. The purpose of this law is to provide special protection of important components of natural reserves, of biodiversity and the natural, as a whole, through the establishment of protected areas. 2. Protected areas are set to provide the preservation and regeneration of 11atural habitats, of species, of natural reserves and landscapes. 3. This law regulates the protection of six (6) categories of protected areas, applied in the territory of the Republic of Albania. The categorization of areas, status and level of protection tor each area is based on the criteria of World Center of Nature Conservation. Article 3 Definition of Terms Within the meaning of this law: 1. "Protected areas" shall be declared land, water, sea and coast territories 139 assigned for protection of biodiversity, cultural and natural properties, co accompanies, which is managed by legal manners and with scientific contemporary methods 2. "Biological diversity'' (hereinafter "biodiversity''} means the genetic variety ot species and ecosystems. 2.1 "Genetic variety'' means the entirety of genes within population (populations) of a given species, wild or domestic. It includes various populations of the same species or genetic variability within a population. 2.2. "Variety of species" means the entirety of species, of plants and animals. 2.3. "Variety of ecosystems" means the entirety of types of ecosystems. 3. "Territorial System of ecological sustainability of a landscape" is an inner integrated complex of changed and natural ecosystems, capable to preserve natural sustainability. 4. "Bio-center" (the center of biodiversity) is the part of the landscape where long term conditions tor reproduction and life activities of organisms and their natural community development are provided. 5. "Bio-corridor" (biological corridor) is the segmentation of the landscape that connects the bio-centers and enables the migration of organisms and their communities, as well as the exchange of genetic data between them. 6. "Habitat" is the environment of some botanical or animal rndividuals, of their populations or communities. 7. "Landscape" is a part of the territory (including marine and coastal spaces), with special relief characteristics formed by a functional integrated complex of ecosystems, including as well elements of civilization. 8. "Cave", according to this Law, is a hollow/subterranean space more than five (5) m in length, created in natural conditions under the activlty of factors of inorganic origin. 9. "Vertical cave" means a vertical subterranean space that is deeper than five (5) m. 10. "Natural waterfall" means relief where water, under the activity of nature forces, without the interference of man, falls into its own river bed from a height no less than one (1) m. 11. "Canyon" means a deep mouth with perpendicular hill slopes created by physical- natural processes on base of which generally run superficial waters. 12. "Important element of the landscape" is a part of the landscape with environmental, geo-morphological or aesthetic values that holds a typical view of the landscape or helps in its ecological sustainability. 13. "Buffer area" is the limited space, [located] in the outskirts of the protected area that serves for the prevention or bumper of harmful ecological impacts in the environs and important elements of a protected area. 14. "Ecosystem" is a unit that consists of interaction of organisms with their environment. 15. "Protected area administration" is the state organ charged for the protection and administration of a certain protected area. 16. "Environmental permit" is an official document that is issued by the environmental authority for social and economic activity which impact or may impact the environment as per the requirements provided for in the legislation for the environment. 140 17. "Representative network of protected areas" consists in the system of protected areas in the Republic of Albania and within lt ecosystems, habitats and major country representative landscapes are selected. 18. "Ecological network" mal<es up the system of protected areas, known on the basis of their representative network and connected with bio-corridors. Ecological networks can be local, regional and inter-regional systems. 19. With "favorite status of protection of an ecosystem, habit or landscape" is implied the following: a) Natural extensions and surfaces within this expanse are sustainable and in growth; b) The structure and special functions, which are necessary for the long-term maintenance, exist and may continue to exist in the near future; c) Its own typical species owing a favorite protection status. Article 4 Categories of Protected Areas 1. Important or endangered parts of the territory shall be declared protected areas, according to the following categories: a) Strictly natural reserve/scientific reservation/ (Category I); b) National Park (Category rl); c) National Monument (Category lll); 9) Natural managed reservation/area of management of habitats and species (Category IV); d} Protected Landscape (Category V); dh) Protected area of managed resources/protected area with multi-purpose utilization (Category VI). 2. A buffer area may be declared around a protected area. 3. For each category of protected areas shall be applied a certain level of protection. Article 5 Strictly Natural Reserve , . Territories no less than 50 hectares with special natural values, formed by natural or easily changeable ecosystems, which represent bio-centers and bio corridors of a national and regional importance, shall be declared strictly natural reserve. 2. Within the strictly natural reserve is applied the first level of protection Where shall be prohibited: a) Cutting of trees and bushes b) Utilization of chemicals and chemical fertilizers; c) Construction of any kind; <;:) Mining of minerals and peat; d) Hunting and fishing; dh) Light of fires; e) Grazing, domestic animals' passage and construction of objects for their 141 shelter; e) Establishment of recreational, amusement and sports complexes; f) Passage through paths except of the landlord or the person that uses the land; g) Circulation with vehicles of any kind with the exception of the vehicle of. protection of reservation administration and the fire brigade; gj) Sailing in boats, canoe and other means of sailing; h) Intensive reproduction of hunting animals. 3. Buffer area of strictly natural reservation may be declared the territory surrounding the reservation, 100 m width from the reservation border. 4. Any other activity to be performed in the reservation or in its buffer zone shall apply for environmental permit. Article 6 National Park 1. Wide territories no less than 1000 hectares, having unique national and international values, a major part of which are natural ecosystems, little affected by human activity, where plants, animals and natural physical environment are of a special educational and scientific importance shall be declared national park. 2. Within the national park is applied the second level of protection where shall be prohibited: a) Land use with intensive technology, with means and manners that cause fundamental changes in biodiversity, structure and functions of ecosystems or that damage irreversibly the land surface; b) Neutralization of wastes of an origin outside the territory of the national park; c) Dissemination of non-country animals and plants in case when they bring changes in the area biodiversity; 9) Intensive reproduction of hunting animals with exception of savin9 reproduction; d) Construction of roads, motor-ways, railways, urban areas, lines of high voltage and long distance systems of diesel and gas; dh) Washing and sprinkling of roads with chemicals; e) Planting on forests with only one kind of trees; e) Light of fires outside the perimeter of assigned places; f) Circulation of means of transport out of the roads; g) Hunting with poisoned food; gj) Mining of minerals, stones, peat, with exception of gravel and sand for the maintenance of the park; h) Massive sports and tourism activity outside the defined places; i) Organization of rallies with automobiles and motorbikes. 3. Within this area shall be performed only upon receipt of environmental permit, activities that aim at: a} The change of natural state of water reservations, sources, lakes and wetlands systems; b) Establishment and functioning of plants for military and protection purposes; 142 c) Scientific, research and monitoring programs; 9) Scientific, research, archeological, paleontological activities and to carry such discoveries. d) Utilization and temporary storage of agricultural chemicals; dh) Any other activity that is not prohibited explicitly by the paragraph 2 of this Article. 4. The park protection administration may approve: a) Grazing and passage of domestic animals and establishment of huts or temporary settings for their shelter; places; b) Placement of data and advertisement boards, ot signs and posters; c) Sailing in boats, canoe and other means of sailing; 9} Non-military flights with helicopters, ba!loons, delta planes, etc; d) Circulation and parking of vehicles out of the roads and parking places: dh) Mountain climbing, skiing, camping and light of fire outside the defined e} Planting of trees, fruit•trees, seeds and fungi. e) Performance of activity of seasonal tourism structures which does not ultimately occupy land. 5. When the park protection administration notices that the purpose of declaring the park a national park has been infringed may limit or stop temporarily the circulation of vehicles, hunting and fishing and any other permitted activities. 6. Buffer area of national park may be declared the territory surrounding the park, 50 m width from the park border. Article 7 Natural Monument 1. Natural formation (including peculiar trees) of a surface up to 50 hectares, particular geological and geo-rnorphological formation, a mineral deposit or a rare and endangered species or of a special, scientific, aesthetic value and importance shall be declared natural monument. 2. Within a natural monument shall be applied the first level of protection. 3. In compliance with the level of protection of the area the Minister of Environment in co-operation with the Minister of Territory Adjustment and Tourism and the Minister of Local Government and Decentralization, -shall approve separate rules for the passage of visitors (tourists) effective for a short period of time. Article 8 Caves as Natural Monument 1. Caves shall be declared natural monuments. 2. Entering into caves, exploration and study of caves shall be made with permit from the Ministry of Environment which is granted on the proposal of the respective loca[ authorities to specialized scientific institutions and no11-for profit organizations, in compliance with their recommendations. 3. The discovery of new caves and the results of their exploration shall be notified in detailed reports to the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry [of 143 Environment] delivers a copy of the report to the Academy of Sciences, universities interested non-for profit organizations and to the respective local authorities. Th~ explorers shall be acknowledged and provided to the right of exploration authorship. 4. Caves may be visited, utllized for curative and tourism purposes only after been adapted for such activities on authorization and under supervision of regional environmental agencies and relevant tourism structures of the local government State or private subjects provided with environmental permit may perform preparation and utilization of the caves. The Council ot Ministers shall determine rules, criteria and procedures, the rights and obligations for giving in use of caves. Exploration, authorized entry and any utilization of caves shall provide their protection and neatness, conservation of micro climate, water regime, ecosystems, geological and geo-morphological features, of archeological and paleontological discoveries and of the creatures. 5. For caves, canyons and waterfalls shall be applied the first level of protection. 6. Caves, canyons and natural waterfalls are not encircled with buffer areas. Article 9 Managed Natural Reservation {Area of management of habitats and species) 1. Territories that represent bio-centers and bio-corridors of local or regional importance or areas with plants, animals, minerals and paleontological discoveries, in particular protected or areas that are utilized for study, educational and cultural purposes shall be declared natural managed reservation (area of management of habitats and species) 2. Within the area of management of habitat and species is applied the third level of protection: a) Change of natural state of water reservations, resources, lakes and wetlands systems; b) Chemicals storage; c) Circulation and parking of vehicles out of the roads and parking places; c;:) Collection of plants, minerals, paleontological discoveries and stones; d) Establishment and functioning of plants for military and protection purposes; dh) Placement of data and advertisement boards, signs and posters with exception of those that indicate the objective of reservation protection; e) Mountain climbing, skiing, camping and light of fire outside the defined places. 3. Activities set forth in paragraph 2 of Article 5 of this Law and any other activity, which is not prohibited by this Article, shall be performed upon receipt of environmental permit. 4. Buffer area of management of habitats and species may be declared the territory surrounding the area of management of habitats and species, 50 m width from the area border. 5. As for the tourism utilization of natural formations of this reservation, the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Territory Adjustment and tourism as well as the Minister of Local Government and Decentralization shall approve sustainable 144 and controllable rules for passage of visitors (tourists) only for limited period of time observing protection measures of third level. Article 10 Protected Landscape 1. Territories larger than 1000 ha, of a harmonious and well-formed landscape of a developed characteristic relief, of a variety of ecosystems, marine or ground, of historical monuments shall be declared protected monument. 2. Within a protected landscape is applied the fourth level of protection where shall be prohibited: a) Planting of forest with only one kind of trees; b) Neutralization of waste and light of fires outside the perimeter of assigned places; c) Dissemination of animals and non-county originated plants; 9) Hunting with poisoned food; d) Construction of motorways, sailing canals and urban areas; dh) Circulation with vehicles out of roads. This rule shall be not applied for state vehicles and agricultural and forestry machinery, fire brigade vehicles, ambulances, water management and veterinary services machinery; e) Organization of rallies with vehicles, motorbikes and bicycles. 3. Activities that change the utilization of territory, constructions, use of chemicals and pesticides, treatment of sewage waters in farms for areas larger than 2 hectares and any other activity which is not prohibited explicitly by paragraph 2 of this Article shall be performed only upon receipt of environmental permit and been approved by the Territory Adjustment Council of the Republic of Albania. Article 11 Protected Area of Managed Resources 1. Areas which include wide, relatively remote and uninhabited territories difficult to access or regions which are still less inhabited and been under continuous pressure to be populated and utilized widely and where their transformation for intensive use is unclear or inadequate shall be declared protected areas of managed resources. Limited access to these areas means that these areas normally will require control, which will be dependant of pressures to access and utilize the area. 2. This category may be used even for those protected areas by legislation but not been used yet for any reason. 3. Within a protected area of managed resources shall be applied the fourth level or protection. Article 12 Forests, Waters and other Natural Properties within Protected Areas 1 . Forests [located] in protected areas shall be excluded tram classification as forests for utilization. 145 2. Management of forest and forest property, of waters and water property, as. well as other properties in state ownership located inside a protected area shall be performed by the administration of area protection. The administration such activities shall exercise directly or through an authorized subject 3. Where these properties are in private ownership they shall be managed and utilized by the owner and legal user provided that this management is in compliance with area management plan approved by the Ministry of Environment. 4. Provisions for interventions against bugs and diseases that cause damages in forests or water of protected areas shall be applied only with approval of administration of the respective area and in the level determined by it. Article 13 Declaration Md Management of Protected Areas 1. Declaration of a protected area and of its buffer area shall be made by decision of the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Minister of Environment upon receipt of opinion from local government organs, specialized institutions, non for profit organizations and from private owners in case their estate are included in the protected area. 2. Council of Ministers approves the procedures for proposal and declaration of buffer and protected areas. The Ministry of Environment shall prepare them [the procedures] in reliance with criteria of biodiversity convention, relevant guidelines of European Union and national environmental plans and strategies. 3. Any natural or juridical person shall have the right to ask for the Ministry that his own private territory or part of own natural objects to be declared or included in one of the categories of protected areas. Article 14 Declaration of Protected Areas 1. The proposal to declare a protected area at least shall include the following: a) Justification for the establishment of a protected area, how it supports objectives of administration plan of representative network of protected areas, advantages and disadvantages of a protected area establishment and proposed category of protection; . b) The results of consultation process with civil society stakeholders, in particular the approval by the local municipality within and around the proposed area including received comments and reflection into the proposal; c) A physical observation of the proposed place; 9) An environmental impact assessment including activity processes and categories, which can threaten the biodiversity and other features of proposed location including the surrounding areas; d) An observation of the social and economic impact on local population that includes the utilization of proposed area and the potential impact of protected area in this utilization; dh) A description of compensative measures that might deem necessary to 146 be taken in order to address the transfer of property and the rights of usage of biodiversity elements. 2. State organs shall take temporary measures for protection and administration case by case. Article 15 Management Plans of Protected Area 1 . The Ministry of Environment, other state organs and local government or in collaboration with third parties shall prepare management plans for each protected area. 2. All management plans of protected areas, which are not prepared by the Ministry of Environment, shall be endorsed by this Ministry in order to assure conformity with objectives of this law or of other related laws. 3. Management plans of protected area will be incorporated in governmental policies, plans and programs related to it as well as in the national, regional or local decision-making. 4. Management plans of protected area will include at least the following: a) Objectives of management of protected area; b) Mechanisms and direction authority either of the Ministry of Environment or of the other state organs or of other organizations or natural and juridical persons; c) Processes and categories of activities which threaten or are menacing to the protected area and its surrounding areas inclusive; G) Regulatory or administrative measures necessary to avoid or lessen the identified threats; d) Permitted activities within the protected area; dh) The right [adequate] activities for surrounding areas including buffer areas and beyond; e) Conditions for control of tourism and other services; e) Data on former ownership of the ground and rights to use biodiversity elements within it including traditional lifestyle of population or local community; f) Conditions to develop traditional lifestyle activities, of the area or of the biodiversity elements within it provided that they do not oppose [contradict] with objectives of administration of protected area; g) Conditions to share profits from establishment and administration of protected area, in particular with local communities and populations; gj) Conditions for scientific research, inventory and monitoring; h) Financial resources those profitable inclusive; i) Any other special conditions for the mentioned area. 5. Management plans of protected areas will be revfsed and elaborated periodically fn compliance with time needs. Article 16 Duties of Ministry of Environment for Declaration of Protected Areas 1. The Ministry of Environment shall: a) Formulate and publish plans of areas which will be declared protected after 147 receipt of opinion of local government organs; b) Give public notice for the approved protected areas, natural monuments, protected trees, specially protected species oi plants and animals, mining and paleontological piscoveries determining in details conditions for their protection; c) AJ:)proves and announces plans for management of protected areas as well as programs tor protection of particularly endangered species of plants and animals, for water sources and artificial and natural lakes in these areas. 2. Plans of managements and programs of protection shall be formulated in collaboration with managing institutions and owners of objects located in protected areas. 3. Owners and users of land which will be declared a protected area as well as any individual or authority having interest in the area shall have the right of objection the objective to declare [that area] a protected area. Objections shall be submitted in writing to the Ministry of Environment within thirty (30) days from the date of objective announcement. 4. The Ministry of Environment shall review objections in a month and notify interested [parties] about the decision taken. Against the Ministry decision the interested [parties] have the right of appeal in the district court within 15 days. 5. From the notification of the plan about declaring a territory a protected area until entry into force of the decision which declares that [territory] a protected area, owners and users of land, forests, pastures shall be prohibited to intervene or damage the state and natural values of the territory been proposed for protection. Article 17 Implementation of Management Plan 1. Management plans and protection programs shall be implemented by the administration of area protection. 2. To follow up implementation of management plans in protected areas shall be established management committees. Composition, functions, duties and responsibilities of these committees shall be determined by decision of Council of Ministers. 3. To implement management plans institutions public or private, juridical persons local or foreign, non-for profit environmental organizations may be engaged applying rules and procedures of competing and bidding. Article 18 Ownership in Protected Areas 1. Protected areas shall be declared territories that are public, municipal, communal property and in special cases private property. 2. Owning to special interest of nature and biodiversity protection in composition of protected areas shall be included private lands, forests, pastures, etc, in any case with the consent of the owner. . 3. Territories and private objects, included in protected areas shall remain private property. They shall be administered and used by the owner or by the legal user only according to requirements of management plan of the area, endorsed by 148 the Ministry of Environment. 4. Owners of the property of which is included within the territory of protected area after entry in to force of this law shall have the right of administration and use of their property in accordance with requirements of management plan. In case owners disagree they shall have the right of compensation in value or in taking another land or may sell their land to the state in conformity with legislation in force. 5. Natural monuments been public property are not transferred. Article 19 Users of Protected Areas 1. Owners of the property of which is included within the territory of protected area as well as users of this property participate in planning, protection and use of natural resources of the area. They shall be obliged to collaborate with administration of the area and implement with exactness rules, management plans and programs drafted for sustainable development of the area. 2. Activities and constructions in protected areas shall be performed only in conformity with requirements of this law, in compliance with management plan and upon receipt of environmental permit. Constructions completed or in progress contrarily with this law shall be subject of Law no. 8405 dated "17.9.1998 "On Urban Planning" and its amendments. 3. Social and economic activities, projects that aim to be implemented in a protected area shall be provided with environmental permit, upon submission of relevant study and the complete report on environmental impact assessment. 4. All state, private and tourism construction shall be made on the basis of studies and general adjustment plans endorsed by the Territory Adjustment Council of the Republic of Albania. 5. The administration of protected area, environment inspectors, local government organs in collaboration with the State Police and with Construction Police shall halt implementatlon of projects and activities with impact on environment and that in contradiction of management plan of area. 6. Juridical and natural persons, that perform permitted activitles within the territory of protected areas after entry in force of this law shall be obliged to enter into a contract with managing institutions in order to exercise their activity, giving relevant payment [to managing institutions}. Article 20 Monitoring of Protected Areas 1. Ministry of Environment shall formulate objectives of monitoring of protected areas, direct their organization and realization and elaborate and publish monitoring results. 2. In the implementation of monitoring programs the Ministry shall engage public or private institutions in compliance with rules and procedures of competing and bidding. Subject been engaged in monitoring shall submit to the Ministry the monitoring results. 149 3. Subject that performs permitted activity in protected areas shall be obliged to monitor in accordance with requirements of area monitoring program and publish the results [data] of this monitoring. Article 21 Filing and Marking of Protected Areas 1. Ministry of Environment shall determine the manner of marking protected areas in the fleld and on the maps. 2. For marking of protected areas shall be used the emblem of the Republic of Albania. 3. Ministry of Environment shall notify respective geodesic and mapping organs about any declaration, change or removal of status of any protected area. 4. Protected areas shall be filed in the central filing system of the Ministry of Environment, which will be created using the data of relevant state institutions and other specialized institutions. 5. Ministry of Environment shall formulate and endorse rules for establishment, functioning and use of central filing system. 6. The central filing system is open to the public and any one can access it upon permit and in presence of an authorized officer. Article22 Removal and Change of the Status of Protected Area and its buffer zone 1. The status of protection of a protected area sha!I be taken away or changed, according to this law when circumstances and objective of giving such status have changed. 2. The ending of status of a protected area shall be made on decision of Council of Ministers upon collection of opinions from specialized institutions, local government organs, non-for profit organizations and from owners when their estates are part of a protected area. 3. Ending of status of a protected area shall end the existence of its buffer area, too. 4. Proposal for ending the status of a protected area shall include the following: a) Justification for status ending; b) Environmental impact assessment that reflects the impact on the existing categorization of the protected area, biodiversity and local communities or populations; c) The description of bumper measures; 9) Results of processes of co-ordination and consultation with civil society stakeholders particularly with populations or communities within and around the protected area including comments and reflection on the proposal. 150 Article 23 Protected Area Administration 1. State authority charged with administration of protected area (administration of protected area) shall be established by decision of Council of Ministers. 2. Composition, duties, responsibilities and functioning of administration of any category of protected area shall be approved by the Council of Ministers. 3. With entry into force of this law the already established structures of administration of protected areas shall be gradually taken over by institutions determined in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. 4. Ministry of Environment upon approval by the Council of Ministers may take over in administration-protected areas and under its authority the area administration. Article 24 The Right of Visit in Protected Areas Any one shall have the right of visit in protected areas provided that he shall honor legal rights of the owner or user of the land, legal obligations deriving from this law, rules set by the area protection administration and any other laws, which set forth legal obligation for property protection. Article 25 Activities in Protected Areas 1. Within protected areas may be performed economical, social, tourism, research and scientific, etc in accordance with requirements of this law. 2. Central government and local government organs shall promote and support initiatives, projects, programs and activities aiming at improvement of natural and ecological indicators of a protected area or positively impact on these indicators. 3. Within protected areas activities may be performed only upon prior provision of environmental permit or upon approval of area protection authority in cases when this is an explicit requirement of this law. Article 26 Objectives of Representation Network of Protected Areas General objectives of representative network shall be: a) to preserve directions of present and future development of the country through conservation and when necessary through restoration of ecosystems, habitats and representative landscapes as well as integration of their management into government policies, plans, programs and activities at national, regional and local level; b) To provide sustainable use of biodiversity elements through inclusion of 0 151 local communities in decision-making and any other activities refated to protected areas, inclusive of defining and marking of areas, formulation of integrated management plans and direction of protected areas. Article 27 Development, Planning, Co-ordination and Direction of Representation Network 1. Ministry of Environment shall co-ordinate the establishment of representative network of protected areas. 2. Planning, co-ordination and direction of representative network shall be specified in a management plan of the network which shalf periodically be elaborated and be in disposal of state organs and civil society. 3. Management Plan of representative network shall contain the following: a) Network objectives; b) Each protected area share of contribution iri achieving objectives of representative network and objectives of ecological network; c) Lack of coverage of all valuable areas from representative network; g) Action plan to implement and further develop the representative network. 4. Budgets supporting the establishment of representative network as well as those supporting protected areas shall be provided from state financial resources and from donors. Article 28 General Provisions for Protected Areas The establishment of protected areas shall be made in conformity with management plan of representative network of protected areas and ecological network management plan of the country. Article 29 Objectives of Ecological Network Albanian ecological network shall be established to maintain or restore a favorable protection status of ecosystems, habitats and landscapes. Article 30 Elements of Ecological Network The following forms ecological network: a) Its own central area of war.Id, regional and national importance tor protection of biodiversity, which include half-natural and natural habitats and landscapes. The central area includes elements of representative network of protected area; b) Corridors to improve the connection of central areas supporting movement 152 of species; b) Restoration and rehabilitation areas; 9) Buffer areas to support and protect ecological network form outer impacts and where within these areas shall be promoted ecological and sustainable development. Article 31 Development, Planning, Co-ordination and Direction of Ecological Network 1. Ministry of Environment shall co-ordinate the establishment of ecological network. 2. Planning, co-ordination and direction of ecological network shall be specified in a management plan of the network which shall periodically be elaborated and be in disposal of state organs and civil society. 3. Management plan of the network defines: a) Network objectives; b) Contribution share of each element of network to achieve such objectives; c) Network deficiencies; 9) Action plan to achieve objectives. 4. Management plan of network shall be endorsed by decision of the CouncH of Ministers. 5. Government policies, plans and programs as well as decision-making at national regional and local levels shall assure the integrity of ecological network. Article 32 Sanctions 1. Violations of prov1s1ons of this law, which does not constitute criminal offense, shall constitute administrative cont~vention. 2. Types of contraventions and measures as well as authority observing contraventions and decide on relevant measures shall be determined by decision of the Council of Ministers. Article 33 By-laws The Council of Ministers and relevant ministries are responsible to enact by laws in application of this law. Article 34 Abolitions Articles 12, 20 paragraph 2, 37 paragraph 2 and 41 of Law No.7623, dated 13.10.1992 "On Forests and Forestry Service Police", as well as Articles 8 letter "c", 153 1 o and 13 of Law No.7875, dated 23.11.1994 "On Protection of Wild Fat.ma and Hunting" are repealed. 154 Article 35 This law is effective 15 days after publication in the Official Journal. CHAIRMAN Servet Pellumbi