According to the Forest Code, forests are to be 
classified as protective. reserve. demonstration, or 
productive. Protective forests are those which, due 
to their location, are used to protect watersheds, 
prevent erosion. fix dunes. aid in border defense, 
safeguard public health. and preserve sites of natural 
beauty and habitats of rare fauna. Reserve forests 
are those set aside as national, State, or municipio 
(comparable to county) parks: as special areas con- 
taining rare or valuable forest species whose conserva- 
tion is considered necessary for scientific or esthetic 
reasons: and as public recreation areas. Demon- 
stration forests are actually plantations of one or a 
limited number of forest species. native or exotic, 
considered suitable for extensive planting in a par- 
ticular region. All other forests are classed as 
productive and are subject to exploitation. 
The Ministry of Agriculture is charged with the 
responsibility of classifying the lands covered by 
protective and reserve forests, locating national 
parks. setting up demonstration forests, and carrying 
out a survey of the total forest area of the country. 
Regional and local authorities are empowered to make 
classifications of forests subject to revision by Federal 
authorities and are autonomous in the establishment 
Forest land in 
private ownership may be decreed as _ protective 
of parks and demonstration forests. 
forest by the Federal Government. and _ privately 
owned forest may be declared as reserve forest or 
expropriated for reforestation purposes as deemed 
necessary by Federal or local authorities, but the 
owner is to be paid an indemnity for any loss or 
damage sustained. Under this code, the forest 
(that is, the timber on private property) is exempt 
from taxation and does not increase for tax purposes 
the value of the land on which it stands. 
The Forest Code sets up general provisions for the 
exploitation of productive forests. both private and 
public. and their protection and management. Prior 
license to cut or remove forest products, issued by 
competent authority, is required for certain specified 
conditions regardless of ownership, and public do- 
main forests are opened to exploitation by means of 
public competitive bid. 
The Forest Code provides for the establishment of 
a Federal forest police, outlines their powers and 
duties. and lists forest infractions and the penalties 
that may be incurred. It also states that the super- 
vision and protection of forests can be specifically 
under the care of a State or municipio through an 
agreement with the Federal Government, and that 
the rights and responsibilities for guarding and con- 
serving the forests shall be exercised by the local 
authorities where Federal forest agents have not been 
appointed. 
A Forest Fund is established in the Ministry of 
Agriculture and consists of contributions from private 
corporations, institutions, and persons interested in 
the conservation of forests. donations. and _ fiseal 
The resources of the fund are to 
be used by the competent forest authorities in ac- 
appropriations. 
cordance with the recommendations of the Forest 
Council. 
The Federal Forest Council, composed originally 
of appointed individuals representing several in- 
vestigational and administrative Federal agencies, 
Under the provi- 
sions of the Forest Code, the Council is made up of 
of the National Museum, the 
Botanical Garden, the University of Rio de Janeiro, 
performed consultative functions. 
representatives 
the Extension Service of Vegetal Production, the 
National Department of Roads, the Forest and 
Woods Services of the Municipios of the Federal 
District, and the Touring Club of Brazil; several 
prominent persons privately engaged in science, 
education, or forest industry: and the Director of the 
Federal Forest Service. ‘To the consultative fune- 
tions exercised by the Council. the code added the 
responsibility of guiding the forest authorities in the 
expenditures from the Forest Fund, promoting the 
observance of the Forest Code and making recom- 
mendations for its amendment, instituting and ad- 
vancing forest extension work, promulgating forestry 
education, and promoting the organization of State 
and eventually municipio forest councils. 
In the past 50 or 60 years, considerable protective 
and regulatory forest legislation has been enacted 
by the various States. Because of insufficient funds, 
too small a number of trained personnel, and the 
lack of a strong forest consciousness which the 
interests of Brazil require. enforcement of many of 
the laws passed has not yet reached the effective- 
ness desired. Forest legislation pertaining to the 
Northeast has been influenced not by the abundance 
but rather by the lack of forests. Most measures 
involve protection forests. The State legislatures of 
the Northeast have also tried to encourage fire 
prevention and reforestation. Recently several 
eastern and southern States, especially Sao Paulo, 
have made some progress in introducing and en- 
Most effective 
have been the regulations issued by the National 
forcing effective forest legislation. 
Pine Institute restricting cutting and lumber pro- 
duction and encouraging reforestation. 
40 FOREST RESOURCE REPORT 16, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
