Chapter I of this Decree defines forests as living natural resources "necessary for the preservation of the environment, water sources, soil, wildlife and the livelihood of the pluri-ethnical population". Forest lands are all areas under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, whether covered or not by forests, if not used or defined as permanent agricultural land. Forests are declared the property of the State. Individuals, collectives or juridical entities may hold use or tenure rights only by authority of the Ministry. However, the State recognizes the right to use forest land and products in accordance with village customs, such as for the gathering of firewood and other products, hunting, and other customs set forth in detailed regulations at village level. Individuals, etc., using trees, natural forests and forest land are obliged to pay for such resources. All felling of trees is prohibited, except if specifically allowed by Forest Management Plans or authorized by the Ministry. Conversion of forest land to other purposes must be authorized by the Prime Minister, except in the case of conversion of certain degraded lands, which may be authorized by the Land and Forest Land Distribution Committee. Chapter II calls for the delineation of Forest Management Planning Areas and Forest Management Areas. The Ministry is obligated to survey and designate forests according to the following categories: Protection Forests, Conservation Forests, Production Forests, Regenerated Forests and Degraded Forest Lands. Chapter III states that the Ministry shall appoint forestry officers in charge of each forest area. The Ministry is also empowered to contract out management to other parties, such as villagers, collective organizations, individuals or juridical entities. Forest officers are required, in consultation with concerned parties, including villagers, to draw up forest management plans, subject to approval of the Ministry. Such plans must be consistent with the principles of sustainable forest management. Any forest management plan calling for exploitation in a forest area must clearly state the compensatory steps to be taken in order to norma-lize the exploited forest. Chapters IV, V and VI deal with Forest Management Contracts, which include Collective, Family and Afforestation contracts. Collective contracts are entered into with the village chief or the chief of the collective organization. Such contracts may cover any type of forest land. Family contracts are for the management and use of degraded forests or non-forest land for agriculture, forest and livestock production by a family. After three years of contract compliance, the family may obtain permanent tenure over the subject land. Various other types of contracts deal with exploitation and business uses of forests. Chapter VII deals with various management issues. Among other things, it forbids "clear cutting" except in special cases involving the conversion of land to other uses. Shifting cultivation is restricted to degraded or non-forest land, and the local administration is obligated to assist in the transformation of shifting into sedentary cultivation. While felling of trees is generally forbidden in protection and conservation forests, buffer zones are envisioned around each area to meet local needs in accordance with regulations. Chapter IX calls for establishment of a Forestry Development Fund to be used for forest management and conservation.