Possessory Information on Forested Land Outside Protected AreasInformación posesoria en terrenos con bosque fuera de zonas protegidas

**IV.-** This Court finds that the appellant is not correct. Through the procedure of Información Posesoria, the possessor of an unregistered agrarian property who lacks a registerable title, upon fulfilling a series of formal requirements (among which can be mentioned: the publication of an edict, notification of adjoining landowners, notification of the state entities Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario and the Procuraduría General de la República) can achieve registration of the land in the Public Registry. Likewise, substantial or substantive requirements must be proven, namely the exercise of agrarian or agro-environmental possession, exercised as owner, publicly, peacefully, continuously, and for a minimum period of ten years. If these requirements are not met, the proceeding cannot be approved. The State's representation argues that it is not appropriate to approve this proceeding, because the land includes forested area (área boscosa), which is comprised within the natural heritage of the State (patrimonio natural del Estado) and is inalienable. In the repealed Ley Forestal No. 4465, article 32 established that "*The forest heritage of the State is constituted by all forests and forest lands of the national reserves, of areas declared inalienable, of properties registered in its name…*" Thus, article 33 of that legal body indicated that assets comprised within the forest heritage of the State were not susceptible to registration in the Registry through Información Posesoria. However, subsequently the Ley Forestal No. 4465 was amended by Ley No. 7174, which, as relevant, regulated in article 2 the amendment to numeral 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias No. 139. Thus, the amendment to article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias operated in the sense that areas that are outside zones declared as national parks, biological reserves, forest reserves, or protective zones, but that contain forests, "*...may only be titled if the promoter demonstrates having possessed them for ten years or more and having protected said natural resource, on the understanding that the property must be properly demarcated with fences or clean lanes...*" From said article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, the will of the legislator is clearly derived, in the sense that the registration of lands with forest cover (cobertura boscosa) is appropriate, provided the prerequisites of enclosures and protection of the natural resource are proven. Having analyzed the current Ley Forestal No. 7575, in its article 13, it is not deduced that an express or implied repeal of numeral 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias has occurred. Rather, it is amended, reinforcing titling. Article 13 of the Ley Forestal No. 7575 defines the concept of the State's natural heritage, understood as: "*constituted by forests and forest lands of national reserves, of areas declared inalienable, of properties registered in its name, and of those belonging to municipalities, autonomous institutions, and other bodies of the Public Administration, except for properties that guarantee credit operations with the National Banking System and become part of its assets...*" Note that the State's natural heritage refers to forest lands of national reserves; in accordance with article 11 of the Ley de Tierras y Colonización, in the case of unregistered lands, the protection of private individuals' ten-year possession is permissible, with evidence to the contrary being pertinent regarding the nature of a national reserve. Consequently, the arguments of the state representation are not accepted. It is the criterion of this body that for assets such as the one at hand, in which forested areas exist, and the property is not located in the zones indicated in the first paragraph of article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, the registration of lands with forests through the Información Posesoria proceeding is indeed appropriate. This is on the understanding that all formal and substantive requirements regarding the special possession demanded must be proven. In the present matter, it is deduced from the statements of the deponents [Nombre1], [Nombre2], [Nombre3], on folios 151 to 154, that the land subject to titling has been possessed both by the previous owners and by the promoter for cattle ranching and agriculture, and furthermore, they have maintained the forest. That situation was verified in the judicial inspection record (acta de reconocimiento judicial), visible on folio 88. In this regard, it is inferred that the possession exercised by the promoting party is consistent with the legal requirements of an environmental nature, since the forest resource has been protected, as observed in the judicial inspection and the statements of the cited witnesses. Furthermore, Engineer Shiriam Yassir Farah G., land-use certifier (certificador de uso del suelo), on folios 58 and 75 indicates that on the related property, the proper land use has been exercised for the activity carried out according to the approved methodology. According to the land-use certifier, on the property there are annual crops, and a pure stand of jaúl (bosque-Rodal puro de jaúl), with shrubs of Guayabillo, Turruz, and Calas, and he recommends promoting natural forest regeneration and not cutting trees in the protection zone of the ravine (quebrada). In the judicial inspection visible on folio 88, the judge records that the property is fenced, observing that the fences appear old, there is a house, and broccoli crops that were noted to be harvested; likewise, at the back of the land there is a ravine with an almost vertical slope and it is properly protected and covered with trees. In such a manner, the requirement established in article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias has been proven, in the sense that the property is properly fenced and the forest and water resources have been cared for. Likewise, according to the inspection record visible on folio 88, the land is 70% dedicated to agriculture, and only one-third contains forest, precisely in an area where there is a steep slope and corresponds to a protection area. Thus, the concept of "forest" from the Ley Forestal 7575 does not apply. Consequently, the arguments of the state representation are not shared.” 139. Thus, the amendment to Article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias operated in the sense that areas that are outside zones declared as national parks, biological reserves, forest reserves, or protective zones, but that contain forests, “...may only be titled if the applicant demonstrates having possessed them for ten years or more and having protected said natural resource, on the understanding that the property must be duly delineated with fences or cleared paths...” From said Article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, the will of the legislator is clearly derived, in the sense that the registration of lands with forest cover (cobertura boscosa) is permissible, provided the prerequisites of enclosures and protection of the natural resource are proven. Having analyzed the current forestry law, No. 7575, in its Article 13, it is not inferred that an express or tacit repeal of numeral 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias has occurred. Rather, it is modified, reinforcing titling. In Article 13 of the Forestry Law No. 7575, the concept of the State's natural heritage (patrimonio natural del Estado) is defined, understood as: “constituted by the forests and forest lands of the national reserves, of the areas declared inalienable, of the farms registered in its name, and of those belonging to municipalities, autonomous institutions, and other organisms of the Public Administration, except for immovable properties that guarantee credit operations with the National Banking System and become part of its heritage...” Note that the State's natural heritage refers to forest lands of national reserves; in accordance with Article 11 of the Ley de Tierras y Colonización, in the case of unregistered lands, the protection of ten-year possession by private individuals is possible, evidence to the contrary being relevant regarding the nature of a national reserve. Consequently, the allegations of the state representation are not accepted. It is the criterion of this court that for properties such as the one before us, in which there are forested areas, and the immovable property is not located in the zones indicated in the first paragraph of Article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, the registration of lands with forests through the possessory information proceeding is indeed permissible. The foregoing, on the understanding that all form and substance requirements regarding the special possession demanded must be proven. In the present matter, it is deduced from the statements of the deponents [Nombre1], [Nombre2], [Nombre3], at folios 151 to 154, that the land subject to titling has been possessed both by the previous owners and by the applicant for cattle ranching, agriculture, and they have also maintained the forest. That situation was verified in the judicial inspection record, visible at folio 88. In that order, it is inferred that the possession exercised by the applicant is consistent with the legal environmental requirements, since the forest resource has been protected, as observed in the judicial inspection, and the statements of the cited witnesses. Even Engineer Shiriam Yassir Farah G., land-use certifier, at folios 58 and 75 indicates that on the related property, the conforming soil use has been exercised for the activity carried out according to the approved methodology. According to the land-use certifier, on the property there are annual crops, and a pure stand of jaúl forest, with shrubs of Guayabillo, Turruz and Calas, and he recommends promoting natural forest regeneration and not cutting trees in the protection zone of the stream (quebrada). In the judicial inspection visible at folio 88, the judge records that the immovable property is fenced, observing that the fences appear old, there is a house, broccoli crops that were noticed to be harvested; likewise that at the back of the land there is a stream with an almost vertical slope and it is duly protected and covered with trees. In this manner, the requirement established in Article 7 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias has been proven, in the sense that the property is duly fenced and the forest and water resources have been cared for. Likewise, according to the inspection record visible at folio 88, the land is 70% dedicated to agriculture, and only one third is forest, precisely in an area where there is a steep slope and corresponds to a protection area. Thus, the concept of "forest" from Forestry Law 7575 does not apply. Therefore, the allegations of the state representation are not shared.”

IV.- Estima este Tribunal que no lleva razón la apelante. Mediante el trámite de Información Posesoria, el poseedor o poseedora de un fundo agrario sin inscribir y que carezca de título inscribible, previo al cumplimiento de una serie de requisitos formales (entre los cuales cabe mencionar: la publicación de un edicto, notificación de colindantes, notificación de los entes estatales Instituto de Desarrollo Agrario y la Procuraduría General de la República) puede lograr la inscripción del terreno en el Registro Público. Asimismo, debe acreditarse requisitos sustanciales o de fondo, a saber el ejercicio de una posesión agraria o agro-ambiental, ejercida como dueño o dueña, en forma pública, pacífica, continua y por un plazo mínimo de diez años. Si no se cumple con esos requisitos la diligencia no podrá ser aprobada. La representación del Estado aduce que no es procedente aprobar este trámite, en virtud que el terreno comprende área boscosa, la cual está comprendida dentro del patrimonio natural del Estado, es inalienable. En la derogada Ley forestal No. 4465, artículo 32 se estableció que “El patrimonio forestal del Estado está constituido por todos los bosques y terrenos forestales de las reservas nacionales, de las áreas declaradas inalienables, de las fincas inscritas a su nombre…” Así, el artículo 33 de ese cuerpo legal indicaba que los bienes comprendidos en el patrimonio forestal del Estado no eran susceptibles de inscripción en Registro mediante información posesoria. Sin embargo, con posterioridad la ley forestal No. 4465 fue reformada por la Ley No. 7174 que en lo que interesa reguló en el artículo 2 la modificación al numeral 7 de la Ley de Informaciones Posesorias No. 139. Es así como la modificación al artículo 7 de la Ley de Informaciones Posesorias operó en el sentido que las áreas que estén fuera de zonas declaradas parques nacionales, reservas biológicas, reservas forestales o zonas protectoras, pero que contengan bosques, “…sólo podrán ser tituladas si el promoverte demuestra haberlas poseído por diez años o más y haber protegido dicho recurso natural, en el entendido de que el inmueble tendrá que estar debidamente deslindado con cercas o carriles limpios…” De dicho artículo 7 de la Ley de Informaciones posesorias, se deriva con claridad la voluntad del legislador, en el sentido que es procedente la inscripción de terrenos con cobertura boscosa, en el tanto se acrediten los presupuestos de cerramientos y protección del recurso natural. Analizada la actual ley forestal No. 7575, en su artículo 13, no se deduce que haya operado derogatoria expresa, ni tácita del numeral 7 de la Ley de Informaciones posesorias. Más bien, se modifica reforzando la titulación. En el artículo 13 de la Ley forestal No. 7575, se define el concepto de patrimonio natural del Estado, entendido como: “constituido por los bosques y terrenos forestales de las reservas nacionales, de las áreas declaradas inalienables, de las fincas inscritas a su nombre y de las pertenecientes a municipalidades, instituciones autónomas y demás organismos de la Administración Pública, excepto inmuebles que garanticen operaciones crediticias con el Sistema Bancario Nacional e ingresen a formar parte de su patrimonio…” Nótese que el patrimonio natural del Estado refiere a terrenos forestales de reservas nacionales; de conformidad con el artículo 11 de la Ley de Tierras y Colonización, tratándose de terrenos sin inscribir es dable el amparo de la posesión decenal de particulares, siendo pertinente la prueba en contrario en cuanto a la naturaleza de reserva nacional. Consecuentemente, los alegatos de la representación estatal no se acogen. Es criterio de esta sede que en bienes como el que nos ocupa, en el cual existen áreas boscosas, y el inmueble no se ubica en las zonas indicadas en el párrafo primero del artículo 7 de la Ley de informaciones posesorias, sí es procedente la inscripción de terrenos con bosques mediante el trámite de información posesoria. Lo anterior, en el entendido que deben acreditarse todos los requisitos de forma y de fondo en cuanto a la posesión especial exigida. En el presente asunto, se deduce de las declaraciones de los deponentes [Nombre1] , [Nombre2] , [Nombre3] , a folios 151 a 154, que el terreno objeto de titulación ha sido poseído tanto por los anteriores dueños, como por la promovente en ganadería, agricultura, y además han mantenido el bosque. Esa situación fue verificada en el acta de reconocimiento judicial, visible a folio 88. En ese orden, se infiere que la posesión ejercida por la parte promovente es conteste con las exigencias legales de carácter ambiental, pues se ha protegido el recurso bosque, según se observó en el reconocimiento judicial, y las declaraciones de los testigos citados. Incluso, el Ingeniero Shiriam Yassir Farah G., certificador de uso del suelo, a folios 58 y 75 indica que en el fundo relacionado se ha ejercido el uso conforme del suelo para la actividad que realiza de acuerdo a la metodología aprobada. Según el certificador de uso del suelo, en el fundo hay cultivos anuales, y bosque-Rodal puro de jaúl, con arbustos de Guayabillo, Turruz y Calas, siendo que recomienda propiciar la regeneración forestal natural y no cortar árboles en la zona de protección de la quebrada. En el reconocimiento judicial visible a folio 88, el juzgador consigna que el inmueble se encuentra cercado, observando que las cercas se notan antiguas, hay una casa, cultivos de brócoli que se notó cosechado; asimismo que al fondo del terreno hay una quebrada con una pendiente casi vertical y está debidamente protegida y cubierta de árboles. De tal manera, se ha acreditado el requisito establecido en el artículo 7 de la Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, en el sentido que el fundo está debidamente cercado y se ha cuidado el recurso forestal e hídrico. Asimismo, de acuerdo al acta de reconocimiento visible a folio 88, el terreno esta dedicado en un 70 % a agricultura, y solamente en un tercio existe bosque, precisamente en área donde existe una pendiente pronunciada y corresponde a área de protección. De ese modo no aplica el concepto de "bosque" de la Ley Forestal 7575. Por consiguiente no se comparten los alegatos de la representación estatal.”