The fund created by virtue of this chapter shall be administered by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, for the sole purpose of financing and promoting the acquisition, improvement, preservation and maintenance of land that, due to its nature is of a high ecological value, as established in this chapter, and by the regulations to be established by the Department.
The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shall insure strict compliance with the objectives of this chapter, and shall present alternatives to strengthen the acquisition strategy of land of high ecological value. Furthermore, it shall create accessible mechanisms for acquisition of property or land, in the name and in representation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for the purpose of preservation and sustainability of the community.
The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shall submit to the Legislature a report on compliance with this chapter, including the land to be acquired and its ecological value within six (6) months after this act’s approval and subsequently, consecutive annual reports. If said report is not submitted to the Legislature, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shall not be able to make use of the funds, which shall revert to the environmental emergency fund created by Act No. 81, of July 2, 1987.
History —Sept. 5, 2003, No. 268, § 4.