Section 4A of the Principal Act is repealed and the following sections are substituted:

4A.     Board of the Authority

(1)  The Authority has a Board of Directors consisting of –

(a) a person with expertise in public administration and in environmental or natural resource management and governance; and

(b) a person with applied knowledge and expertise in environmental or natural resource management; and

(c) a person with applied knowledge and expertise in sustainable forest management on private land; and

(d) a person with applied knowledge and expertise in sustainable forest management on public land; and

(e) a person with applied knowledge and expertise in community liaison and local government, from a municipal area in which forestry is a major land use; and

(f) a person with expertise in biological science or nature conservation; and

(g) the chief forest practices officer.

(2)  The directors referred to in subsection (1)(a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f) are appointed by the Minister.

(3)  The Minister is to ensure that one of the directors appointed under subsection (1)(c) and (d) has practical knowledge and experience in forest operations, including the harvesting and reforestation of forests.

(4)  The director appointed under subsection (1)(a) is also, by virtue of that appointment, chairperson of the Board.

(5)  The Board may elect a director referred to in subsection (1)(b) , (c) , (d) , (e) or (f) to be deputy chairperson of the Board.

(6)  Schedule 3 has effect with respect to the directors.

(7)  Schedule 4 has effect with respect to meetings of the Board.

4AB.   Role of Board, &c.

(1)  The Board is responsible for –

(a) the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of the Authority under this Act, consistent with the Authority's objectives; and

(b) ensuring that the financial affairs of the Authority are managed and conducted in accordance with sound business practice; and

(c) the exercise and performance of such other powers and functions as may be conferred or imposed on the Authority or the Board under this or any other Act.

(2)  The Board has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities.

(3)  Where in this Act the exercise or performance of a power or function of the Authority in relation to any matter is expressed to be dependent on an opinion, belief or state of mind of the Authority, the Authority is taken to have that opinion, belief or state of mind in relation to that matter if the Board has that opinion, belief or state of mind in relation to that matter.