The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs was established in 1981 with the aim of combating pollution, forest fires, limiting logging, establishing conditions and standards in the use of agricultural pesticides, wastewater disposal, plant and animal protection, etc.

There was no "environmental" law at the time, but different legislation and differing regulations of several sectors dealt indirectly with environmental matters. For example, these legislations have taken care of the most important environmental issues. They have prevented the deformation and ownership of beaches and public property, theft of monuments, sand and gravel, the dumping of waste on public roads, public and private property and the discharge of waste water by artesian wells, rivers, waterways or the coast. There were also legislation protecting the fisheries, preventing the use of explosives and poisons in hunting, protecting forest wealth, birds and birds, protecting natural sites, national heritage and water resources and combating pollution.