Forest in comparative law: Germany, People’s Republic of China, Canada, Nigeria, and Türkiye

Abstract

Forest governance around the globe has been making positive progress in the sense of resource management in the last decade. However, differences in legal systems and policies cause some difficulties in advancing towards the common goal of forest sustainability. This study is aimed to contribute resources sustainability by comparing forest laws in different legal systems so, as to get good governance and practice examples. The legal systems discussed have been determined as Romano-Germanic (Civilian), Anglo-Saxon, Islamic, and Socialist law. To represent these legal systems Germany, Canada, Nigeria, the People’s Republic of China, and Türkiye have been selected. Forest laws of those countries examined and discussed for definition of forest, ownership types, and protection. It has been concluded different legal systems has an important effect on forest perception and the spatial area of forests. The sustainability approach in the Chinese Forest Law has more positive effects on the forest when compared to other laws. That kind of perception of forest law may lead better forest governance and could be the best example for the rest of the world.

Keywords

• forest law
• forest perception
• legal systems
• national point of view
• sustainability