Approved: Transfer of powers from the national forestry institute (INAFOR) to the ministry of environment and natural resources (MARENA)

Arias - To ensure compliance with the forestry regime in the national territory, the National Assembly approved Law No. 1,222 "Law on the Transfer of Functions from the National Forestry Institute (INAFOR) to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources", which was published on Thursday, October 24 in La Gaceta Diario Oficial No. 195.

Through this law, it was established that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources ("MARENA") becomes the successor of the National Forestry Institute ("INAFOR"). This means that the powers, functions and jurisdiction of this institution will be exercised exclusively by MARENA.

In particular, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) was given the mandate to ensure compliance with the forestry regime throughout the national territory, by means of an addition to Law No. 290, Law on the Organization, Competence and Procedures of the Executive Branch. Likewise, a new purpose to Law No. 217 (General Law on the Environment and Natural Resources) was included, incorporating the functions of administration, monitoring and control of forest resources.

Finally, to guarantee the fulfillment of these new powers for MARENA, the entire budget approved for INAFOR will be transferred, through the coordination of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. All INAFOR assets are now public assets of the Nicaraguan State.

As additional information, reference is made to the repeal of certain aspects of Law No. 462 Law for the Conservation, Promotion and Sustainable Development of the Forestry Sector, among which are those related to the organic part of the former INAFOR, the granting of forestry concessions and certain special forestry obligations; however, the special tax incentives for the forestry sector, regulated by this Law, remain in force.

ariaslaw.com