Wildlife Act, 1976

Management etc. of certain land acquired, held or used by the Minister.

56.—(1) All land acquired or vested in the Minister under the Forestry Acts, 1919 and 1928, or the Forestry Acts, 1946 to 1976, or so vested by virtue of the Forestry (Redistribution of Public Services) Order, 1933, other than land which the Minister considers to be land to which subsections (1) and (2) of this section should not apply and in relation to which a direction (which he is hereby empowered to give) that those subsections shall not apply to the land is given by him and is in force, shall stand held by him both for the purposes of the Forestry Acts, 1946 to 1976, and for the purposes of this Act and may, as the Minister considers appropriate, at any time be managed and used for all or any of the following purposes, namely:

(a) the growth of forest crops,

(b) the conservation of wildlife,

(c) the management and exploitation of hunting and fishing resources,

(d) other purposes ancillary to any of the foregoing, including the promotion of scientific knowledge, amenity, or recreational or educational purposes.

(2) Where the Minister considers that land, being land acquired by or vested in the Minister in the manner mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, is not suitable for any purpose mentioned in that subsection, such land may be managed or used or otherwise dealt with by the Minister in such manner as he thinks fit, and in case land so acquired or vested is not immediately required for use for such a purpose, pending its use therefor the land may be used in such manner as the Minister thinks fit.

(3) The Minister may make such charges (if any) to the public as he considers appropriate for public access to, or use for car-parking or any other purpose of, any land managed or used by him for a purpose mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.