Legally Required Document

Title in original language: 林地不动产登记证

Applicable to: All forest entities and forest farmers who manage forest or plantation. Note that companies can have other types of certificates to show ownership/use rights. Immovable Property Certificate for forest has the same legal effect as Forest Tenure Certificate

Holder of Document: Forest management entities and/or forest farmers 

Signature required by:
Natural Resource Department at county level or above.

Key considerations when checking the doc:

• The certificate will have an expiry date. Check if the certificate is still valid?
• Is the owner's name (at least of forest and use right of forest), location, forest compartment number, forest type the same as on the harvesting permit?
• Is the owner's name the same as on the VAT invoice/receipt issued by the timber owner?
• Is the name the same as on the business license (if the forest is managed by forest entity)?
• Is the species the same as on the harvesting permit or does it cover the species on the harvest permit?
• Is there a stamp of government or forest authority at or above the county level?

Purpose and content of document:
According to the Interim Regulation of Immovable Property Registration and Interim Measures of Confirmation and Registration of Natural Resources, some provinces have started issuing Immovable Property Certificate for forests since 2019. In such cases, these have the same legal effect as Forest Tenure Certificate. The contents of an Immovable Property Certificate for Forest names the holder of the certificate, specifies the rights of the holder has (e.g., the owner of forest or use right of forest and forest land), location of forest, species, area of forest, forest type, duration of management of the forest, map, etc.

Evidence limitations and weaknesses:
No publicly available database or website is available to verify this certificate.