Forest Laws

Forest Laws were laws enacted in ancient times for the purpose of guarding the royal forest lands as hunting preserves, and which were up to the time of Henry III of excessive harshness, death being a not infrequent penalty for infringement. The privileges of forest (at one time the sole prerogative of the sovereign, but by him capable of being vested in another), which might include the right to the wild animals in the forests lying in the domains of a private estate, have now fallen into abeyance, as also the special Forest Courts, while many of the royal forests, which in Henry VIII's time numbered 69, have been disafforested.

Today, Forest Laws are enacted to preserve forests. There are special courts for speedy trial of violators of the laws.

Nearby pages
Forest Litter, Forest Management, Forest Mensuration, Forest of Argonne, Forest of Dean