| Download |  4316.pdf ( 714 KB) |
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| View | Open in browser |
| Upload date | 24 Jun 2015 |
| Contributor | Deena |
| Geographical coverage | Iraq, |
| Keywords | protected, areas, legislation, biodiversity, |
| Release date | 25/06/2015 |
Legislation/System No.2 of Year 2014 named the "System of protected areas" has been approved in Iraq and entered into force according to the Council of Ministers’ decree No. 139 in 2014. The system was prepared by the National Committee for the study on protected sites (which was formed under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment with a membership of the relevant authorities). The law is intended to set the requirements and criteria for the establishment and management of protected areas, considered as one of the most important ways to preserve biodiversity and protect the environment; thereby preserving all its components, including important natural and cultural heritage. The law encompasses 13 articles, which are summarized below:
Article 1: It defines the most important terms used globally in relation with protected areas, and among the others: biodiversity, geological diversity, national park, eco-tourism, threatened species, habitats, sustainable development in addition to a number of other terms.
Article 2: It deals with the formation of a national committee for protected natural sites, which will be chaired by the Ministry of Environment and with the membership of the relevant authorities and institutions that will perform administrative controls.
Article 3: It reviews and list the most important duties and functions of the Committee mentioned in Article 2, such as the evaluation of the proposed sites for declaration as a protected areas, the coordination with international experts and organizations; the indication on how to manage the sites and the classification of those sites, develop the necessary plans for the management and preparation of environmental awareness programs. In addition this article lists a number of other tasks for the Committee.
Articles 4, 5, 6, 7: these articles include the baseline conditions and criteria to propose a site as protected area.
Article 8: It explains the baseline of the protected areas management through the development of plans and the necessary administrative controls.
Article 9: It sets the prohibitions and forbidden actions that cannot be carried out within the protected area because they negatively affect biodiversity and habitats.
Article 10: It provides for exemptions under which the Ministry of Environment can allow to perform certain (normally forbidden) activities within the protected areas.
Article 11: It provides for sanctions and punitive provisions as established under the law to protect and improve the environment nr. 27 of 2009.
Article 12: It sets coordination activities between the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture to issue relevant instructions (ministerial decrees), when needed.
Article 13: It endorses the implementation of the above articles from the date of publication in the National Official Gazette.