Section 22 — Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997

(1)

Where the Director is satisfied that there is an urgent need to save wildlife, a wildlife habitat or an ecosystem of an area from imminent destruction or irremedial damage he shall, by order published in the Gazette, declare that area to be a provisional Wildlife Sanctuary.

(2)

Subject to subsection (3), a declaration made under subsection (1) shall be effective for one hundred and twenty days from and including the day on which the declaration is published in the Gazette or until a declaration is made under section 9 (6), whichever is the earlier.

(3)

The Minister may, after consultation with the Director –

(a)

rescind a declaration made under subsection (1);

(b)

vary such declaration; or

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(c)

extend such declaration for not more than one hundred and twenty days from the date of its expiry.

(4)

Section 13 shall apply to a provisional Wildlife Sanctuary from the date of its declaration.

(5)

Subject to subsection (6), where a declaration is made under subsection

(1)

the Director may, by notice in the Gazette, apply such of the provisions of this

Enactment as he may consider necessary for the protection in the area of wildlife and its habitats.

(6)

No declaration made under subsection (1) shall –

(a)

prevent or make unlawful the residence of persons already lawfully resident in the area;

(b)

restrict the movement of persons already lawfully resident in the area except in those parts closed for the protection of vulnerable wildlife populations.

(7)

The provision as to residence referred to in subsection (6) (a) shall not prevent the Director from negotiating with the persons affected for their removal from the area which has been declared a provisional Wildlife Sanctuary under subsection (1), to an alternative place of residence in return for agreed compensation.

Periods of grace.