Beijing Granted Letters of Forestry Property to Tree-PlantersRecently, the Bureau of Agriculture and Forestry of Mentougou District, Beijing, granted letters of forest property to 711 households in Junxiang Township, recognizing Beijing's first action since the Forest Law was enacted. This is also the first time for tree planters to have obtained the forest property letters from the government.The forest property letters is a legal warrant, which affirms the property rights of forestry, wood, and woodland. Meanwhile, it is considered to be a legal proof in the future for transferring and notarizing the property rights. According to related regulations, since January 1 2001, any activity and business concerning the forestry should be conducted in accordance with the forestry property rights, or else shall be judged as unlawful. Located in the northeast of Beijing, Junxiang is a township covering an area of 84.4 square kilometers with 10 villages or 1722 households under its administration, of which 724 have applied for the forestry property rights. After the letters are issued, the proprietors will have the rights to manage their properties for 30 years, in which they'll have the rights to inherit and transfer the property rights. The tree-planters are the real owners and masters of the trees they've planted. And the owners will have the rights to ask for economic compensation by showing their letters of forestry property in case of woodland removal or requisition. Beijing is extending the registration and issuance of letters of forest property to the whole city with an expectation to be finished by the yearend. By PD Online Staff Yin Zhili |
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