Circular 29/2018/TT-BNNPTNT on silvicultural measures

CIRCULAR

On silvicultural measures

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2017/ND-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Law on Forestry date November 15, 2017;

At the proposal of the General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgates the Circular on silvicultural measures.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular provides for silvicultural measures, including:

1. Zoning for natural regeneration; zoning for natural regeneration with additional planting;

2. Nursing and enriching forests;

3. Rehabilitating natural forests;

4. Afforestation, reforestation; caring for and nursing forest plantations.

Article 2. Subjects of application                      

This Circular applies to organizations, households, individuals and communities engaged in activities in relation to silvicultural measures specified in Article 1 of this Circular.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

1. Zoning for natural regeneration means a silvicultural measure that maximizes the ability of natural regeneration and succession in order to restore forests by protecting forests, preventing deforestation, preventing and fighting forest fires, and clearing up vines and shrubs to promote the establishment of forests within the specified period of time.

2. Zoning for natural regeneration with additional planting means a silvicultural measure that maximizes the ability of natural regeneration and succession in order to restore forests by protecting forests, preventing deforestation, preventing and fighting forest fires, and clearing vines and shrubs together with planting an additional amount of trees in any area that lacks regenerated trees to promote the establishment of forests within the specified period of time.

3. Nursing forests means a silvicultural measure to adjust density and species composition by removing poor-quality non-purpose trees and vines that compete with target tree species for nutrient; retain good-quality target tree species in order to improve the productivity, quality and value of the forests.

4. Enriching forests means a silvicultural measure that combines nursing forests with additional planting of target trees in certain quantities, while retaining existing target trees in the forests.

5. Rehabilitating natural forests means a silvicultural measure to replace exhausted natural forests with low productivity and quality with forest plantations that have higher productivity, quality and economic efficiency.

6. Afforestation means a silvicultural measure to establish forests in any area of non-forested land.

7. Reforestation means a silvicultural measure to re-establish forests that have been harvested or damaged by natural disturbances or other causes.

8. Nursing forest plantations means a silvicultural measure to promote better growth and development of forest trees by weeding, tilling, fertilizing, and other activities.

9. Large-timber plantation means any forest with at least 70% of standing trees per unit of area of which the stem diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is 20 cm or more as for fast-growing species, or 30 cm or more as for slow-growing species, at the main harvestable age.

10. Large-timber plantation means any forest with less than 70% of standing trees of which the stem diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is 20 cm or more as for fast-growing species, or 30 cm or more as for slow-growing species, at the main harvestable age.

11. Transformation of small-timber plantations into large-timber ones means the application of technical measures to nurture forests in order to change the purpose of business accordingly.

12. Auxiliary tree species mean any tree species that are intercropped with the target tree species for a certain period of time, which help to promote better growth and development of the target tree species.

13. Non-purpose tree species mean any tree species that are not for the purpose of the forest.

14. Target tree species mean any tree species that are for the purpose of the forest.

15. Fast-growing tree species mean any tree species that achieve an average annual diameter growth rate of 02 cm/year or more or a yield of 10 m³/ha/year or more.

16. Slow-growing tree species mean any tree species that achieve an average annual diameter growth rate of less than 02 cm/year or a yield of less than 10 m³/ha/year.

17. Restored forest means any forest established by natural regeneration on the land where the forests have been depleted due to shifting cultivation, forest fires or over-exploitation.

18. Non-forested land means arable land or scattered vegetation of grasses, reeds, shrubs, timber trees, bamboos and regenerated trees which does not meet the criteria for being classified as a forest.

19. Regenerated tree means any seedling that grows naturally from seed or from the root bud or root of a tree.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1
ZONING FOR NATURAL REGENERATION; ZONING FOR NATURAL REGENERATION WITH ADDITIONAL PLANTING
 

Article 4. Zoning for natural regeneration

1. Subject matter:

a) Any area that does not meet the criteria for establishing a forest due to over-exploitation;

Abandoned swidden fields, grasslands, shrubs interspersed with trees, estuarine or coastal alluvial plains with a density of more than 500 trees/ha of regenerated target trees, which reach the height of over 0.5 m. Regenerated target trees are relatively evenly distributed over the entire area or form any gaps of under 1000 m²;

b) Any area where bamboo species such as “tre” (Bambusa sp.), “luồng” (Dendrocalamus sp.), “nứa” (Schizostachyum sp.), “vầu” (Indosasa sp.), “lồ ô” (Bambusa balcooa), etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as bamboo) cover between 20% and less than 60% thereof after harvest and are capable of self-regeneration to become a forest;

c) Any rocky mountain where regenerated timber trees are grown but has not yet met the criteria for establishing a forest.

2. Measures:

a) For the subject matter specified at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article, the following measures shall be taken:

Protecting existing regenerated trees, preventing clear-cutting thereof, preventing and fighting forest fires;

Clearing vines, shrubs and removing crooked or infected trees, and non-purpose trees;

Tending trees that have basal shoots and prune the bad ones, leaving no more than 2 shoots on each base, and cleaning the forest;

b) For the subject matter specified at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, only trees affected by pests and diseases, damaged or truncated shall be cut down and bamboo shoots must not be harvested during the period of zoning;

c) For the subject matter specified at Points a, b, Clause 1 of this Article, which belongs to strictly protected sub-zones of special-use forests, and at Point c, Clause 1 of this Article, only the measures of protecting and preventing the cutting of existing regenerated trees, preventing and fighting forest fires shall be taken;

d) The duration of applying those measures is 06 years for protection forests and special-use forests, or from 06 to 08 years for productive forests. The measures shall be applied at least 02 times/year within the first two years thereof and 01 times/year within the remainder.

Article 5. Zoning for natural regeneration with additional planting

1. Subject matter:

a) Any area that does not meet the criteria for establishing a forest due to over-exploitation;

Abandoned swidden fields, grasslands, shrubs interspersed with trees, estuarine or coastal alluvial plains with a density of regenerated target trees which reach the height of over 0.5 m of between 300 trees/ha and less than 500 trees/ha for protection and productive forests, or between 100 trees/ha and less than 500 trees/ha for special-use forests (except for strictly protected sub-zones), the uneven distribution of trees and the gaps of between 1000 m² and less than 3000 m²;

Abandoned swidden fields, grasslands, shrubs interspersed with trees, estuarine or coastal alluvial plains with a density of more than 500 trees/ha of regenerated target trees which reach the height of over 0.5 m, the uneven distribution of trees, and the gaps of more than 1000 m²;

b) Any area where bamboos cover less than 20% thereof after harvest and are capable of self-regeneration to become a protection forest or special-use forest (except for strictly protected sub-zones).

2. Measures:

a) The subject matter specified at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article shall comply with Point a, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular; the subject matter specified at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article shall comply with Point b, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular;

b) Species for additional planting mean timber trees, multi-purpose tree species, non-timber forest tree species:

For special-use forests, they are native trees distributed in the ecosystem of such special-use forests;

For protection forests, they are native trees distributed in the area or from any similar ecological zone;

For productive forests, they are native trees of economic value which are suitable for the production and business purposes;

c) Seedling standards: Seedlings to be planted in special-use forests and protection forests shall be nursed in nursery pots and reach the height of 0.5 m or more;

d) The density of the additional planting shall be determined on the density of existing regenerated trees, but no more than 800 trees/ha;

dd) Applying strip cropping in any area where regenerated trees are unevenly distributed, or planting into groves in large gaps. Trees shall be planted in square pits with the length of 30 cm and the depth of 30 cm or more (hereinafter written as 30 x 30 x 30 cm);

e) Caring for regenerated target trees and additional trees, replacing dead seedlings; weeding and cultivating around the bases of additional trees in a circle with a diameter of 0.6 m or more;

g) The duration of caring is 06 years for protection forests and special-use forests, or from 06 to 08 years for productive forests. The trees shall be cared for at least 02 times/year within the first 03 years thereof and 01 times each year within the remainder.

Section 2

NURSING AND ENRICHING FORESTS; REHABILITATING NATURAL FORESTS
 

Article 6. Nursing natural forests

1. Subject matter:

a) Restored protection forests and special-use forests (except for strictly protected sub-zones) with 400 or more timber trees, which reach the forest canopy height, per hectare or 500 or more regenerated target trees, which reach the height of over 01 m, per hectare. Timber trees and regenerated target trees are relatively evenly distributed over the entire area;

Bamboo forests has the cover of over 60% and 200 bamboo shrubs/ha or more, and the bamboos are relatively evenly distributed over the entire area;

b) Restored productive forests meeting the production and business purposes with more than 500 high-quality, high-rise timber trees per hectare, or more than 1000 regenerated target trees, which reach the height of over 01 m, per hectare. Timber trees and regenerated target trees are relatively evenly distributed over the entire area;

Bamboo forests that has the cover of over 70% and more than 200 clumps/ha, and the bamboos are relatively evenly distributed over the entire area.

2. Measures:

a) For timber trees in protection forests and special-use forests: Vines shall be cleared while shrubs or floor plants shall be kept; trees affected by pests and diseases, crooked, damaged or truncated shall be cut down while healthy growing trees are kept, and a minimum canopy coverage of 0.6 shall be ensured;

The trees should be cut down 01 time or 02 times with the interval of between 03 and 07 years.

b) For timber trees in productive forests: vines with no economic value and shrubs competing with regenerated trees shall be cleared; trees affected by pests and diseases, crooked, damaged or truncated shall be cut down while healthy growing trees are kept;

The trees should be cut down from 01 time to 03 times with the interval of between 03 and 07 years in the period of between 1/2 and 2/3 of the harvest cycle; a minimum canopy coverage of 0.4 shall be ensured;

c) For bamboo forests, vines and shrubs competing with bamboos shall be cleared; crooked, old, damaged bamboo culms shall be cut down and bamboo shoots must not be harvested during the period of nursing.

Article 7. Enriching natural forests

1. Subject matter:

a) Restored protection forests and special-use forests (except for strictly protected sub-zones) with less than 400 timber trees, which reach the forest canopy height, per hectare or less than 500 regenerated target trees, which reach the height of over 01 m, per hectare. Timber trees and regenerated target trees are unevenly distributed over the entire area;

Bamboo forests that has the cover of over 60% and less than 200 clumps/ha;

b) Restored natural productive forests meeting the production and business purposes with less than 500 high-quality, high-rise timber trees per hectare, or less than 1000 regenerated target trees, which reach the height of over 01 m, per hectare. Timber trees and regenerated target trees are unevenly distributed over the entire area;

Bamboo forests that has the cover of over 70% and less than 200 clumps/ha.

2. Measures to enrich forests applied strip cropping:

a) Species:

For special-use forests, they are native trees distributed in the ecosystem of such special-use forests;

For protection forests, they are native trees distributed in the area or from any similar ecological zone;

For productive forests, they are native trees of economic value which are suitable for the production and business purposes;

b) Seedling standards: Seedlings to be planted in special-use forests and protection forests shall be grown from seeds and reach the height of 0.5 m or more;

c) Create strips for tree planting (strips to be cut down): in gaps of less than 1000 m² or where forest trees are unevenly distributed;

Strips shall be arranged along contour lines in any slope of more than 25 degrees and shall run east-west in any slope of less than 25 degrees;

Depending on the shade tolerance and the height of the trees in each strip to determine a reasonable width of the planting strip, which should be at least 2/3 of the canopy height of the retained strips;

Clearing plants on the strips to be cut down, but keeping target trees;

d) Retained strips: The width thereof shall be between 06 m and 12 m and measures shall be taken to clear vines and shrubs, cut down trees that are crooked or affected by pests and diseases in such strips, but the canopies thereof shall not be broken;

dd) Planting season: In Northern provinces, trees shall be planted in spring, spring-summer or summer-autumn; in other provinces, they shall be planted at the beginning of the rainy season or any planting season suitable to the local climate;

e) Planting density: maximum 500 plants/ha, at least 01 row of plants in each strip;

g) The size of the planting hole is 30 x 30 x 30 cm or more;

h) Caring for the forests: In the first 3 years after the trees are planted, at least twice a year. Work content: replacing dead trees, clearing vines and invasive weeds on the planting strips, cultivating the soil around the bases of trees in a circle with a diameter of 0.6 m or more;

From the fourth year onwards until every tree reaches a height of 08 m or more, they should be cared for at least once a year by pruning shoots, removing invasive regenerative trees on planting strips and removing non-purpose trees on the retained strips.

3. Measures to enrich forests where trees are planted into groves:

a) Enriching forests by groves of trees in any place where there are gaps of between 1000 m² and less than 3000 m²;

b) Technical measures as prescribed in Points a, b, d, e, g, and h, Clause 2 of this Article shall be taken;

c) Planting density: maximum 500 plants/ha; the trees shall be planted from the edge of the forest at a distance of between 03 m and 04 m, and from the available regenerated trees at an appropriate distance, which ensures the good growth of the trees.

Article 8. Rehabilitating natural forests

1. Subject matter:

a) Broadleaf evergreen forests and semi-deciduous evergreen forests with the broken canopy structure and the canopy coverage of less than 0.3, which are incapable of becoming forests of economic value and have the following metrics: Less than 50 good-quality timber trees per hectare, less than 30 m³ of target timber trees, of which the stem diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is 06 cm or more, per hectare and less than 800 good-quantity regenerated target trees reaching the height of more than 01 m per hectare, unevenly distributed over the entire area;

b) Coniferous forests: less than 80 trees, of which the average diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is 06 cm or more, per hectare, unevenly distributed over the area; the canopy coverage thereof is less than 0.3;

c) Melaleuca forests that have the canopy coverage of less than 0.3 and have the following metrics: the density is less than 5000 trees/ha, of which there are less than 2500 trees whose average stem diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is more than 06 cm;

d) Bamboo forests: Their tree coverage is over 70% and they are incapable of being restored into forests of economic value. For forests of Bambusa sp. (“tre”), Dendrocalamus sp. (“luồng”), and Indosasa sp. (“vầu”), there must be less than 1000 culms with the diameter of 06 cm or more per hectare (under 2000 culms/ha for Bambusa balcooa (“lồ ô”) forests); For Schizostachyum sp. (“nứa”) forests, there must be less than 200 clumps, and less than 6000 culms, with the diameter of less than 03 cm, or 03 cm or more, per hectare.

dd) Mixed bamboo-timber forests that cannot be restored into forests of economic value and have the following metrics: less than 15 m³ of timber trees, of which the stem diameter measured at 1.3 m stem height is 06 cm or more, per hectare; and less than 3000 culms, less than 100 clumps of Schizostachyum sp. (“nứa”) with the diameter of 03 cm or more per hectare, or less than 500 culms of Bambusa sp. (“tre”), Dendrocalamus sp. (“luồng”), Indosasa sp. (“vầu”), or Bambusa balcooa (“lồ ô”) with the diameter of 06 cm or more per hectare.

2. Measures:

a) Comprehensive rehabilitation: applicable to forest plots with the slope of less than 25 degrees by clear-cutting of the entire forest area, but keeping timber trees and regenerated target trees; afforestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular;

b) Local rehabilitation in strips: applicable to forest plots with the slope of 25 degrees or more by clear-cutting of strips to be cut down and leaving retained strips, of which the width is between 08 m and 12 m; keeping timber trees and regenerated target trees on the retained strips; forestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular;

c) Local rehabilitation by groves: applicable to forest plots with the slope of 25 degrees or more by clear-cutting of groves of between 3000 m² and 5000 m²; keeping timber trees and regenerated target trees; forestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular;

3. Subject matter specified in this Article being productive forests: the maximum area to be rehabilitated in each time shall not exceed 50 hectares in any forest sub-zone; other areas in the same sub-zone shall only be rehabilitated when trees in such area meet the criteria for becoming a forest.

Section 3

AFFORESTATION, REFORESTATION, CARING FOR AND NURSING FOREST PLANTATIONS
 

Article 9. Afforestation of special-use forests

1. Subject matter:

Non-forested land in national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas (except for strictly protected sub-zones), landscape protection areas:

Vacant land; land with scattered vegetation of grasses and reeds;

Land with scattered shrubs and timber trees, regenerated target trees with a height of more than 0.5m with the number of less than 100 trees/ha for hilly and mountainous land, or less than 300 trees/ha for estuarine and coastal alluvial plains, or less than 1000 trees/ha for wetlands, alkaline land that are not capable of natural regeneration into forests.

2. Measures:

a) Selecting species:

For national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, they are native tree species distributed in such special-use forests;

For landscape protection areas, they are native tree species suitable to the environmental conditions of the land where they are planted;

b) Treatment of vegetation: vegetation along the strips or in groves shall be cleared and gathered along the contour lines and not burned. When vegetation is being treated, it is necessary to repair existing trees and regenerated target trees;

c) Digging holes and applying fertilizers: digging planting holes with the size of 30 x 30 x 30 cm or more in rows, then filling the holes and applying basal fertilizers before planting on hilly and mountainous land;

For estuarine and coastal alluvial land and coastal sand flats, depending on specific conditions to determine the size of the planting holes and the appropriate method of digging and filling the holes;

d) Seedlings to be planted must be grown from seeds in nursery pots; seedlings of species on the List of major forest tree species promulgated by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development must meet national standards on seedlings;

For mangrove species, depending on specific conditions, their fruits can be used for afforestation;

dd) Planting method: planting a mix of at least two species, into strips or groves; planting pure species in places with specific habitat conditions or planting light-loving species; the minimum planting density shall be 500 trees/ha;

e) For national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, and landscape protection areas, the technical measures specified in Clause 2 of this Article and other specific technical measures shall comply with the technical guidelines of each species.

3. For forests for scientific research and experimentation, national seedling forests and national botanical gardens, the implementation of scientific and technological tasks shall be decided by forest owners or competent State agencies.

Article 10. Afforestation of protection forests

1. Subject matter:

a) Any area of non-forested land in any watershed protection forest, border protection forest and residential community water source protection forest, including:

Vacant land; land with scattered vegetation of grasses and reeds;

Land with scattered shrubs and timber trees, regenerated target trees with a height of more than 0.5 m with the number of less than 300 trees/ha that are not capable of natural regeneration into forests.

b) Any area of non-forested land that belongs to windbreak and sand-breaking protection forests, including: vacant sandy land or coastal saline land;

c) Any area of non-forested land that belongs to wave break and sea encroachment protection forests, including: Vacant land on estuarine and coastal alluvial plains or land with less than 300 regenerated target trees reaching the height of more than 0.5m per hectare.

2. Measures:

a) Selecting species:

For the subject matter specified at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article, selecting tree species suitable to the habitat conditions: giving priority to native trees, or trees with dense, evergreen foliage, developed root system, and long life span; selecting auxiliary tree species that can be intercropped with the main tree species without adversely affecting them, including fast-growing species that can improve the land or food crops, forest specialty plants, medicinal plants, non-timber forest plants;

For the subject matter specified at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, tree species with deep and firm roots shall be selected with the priority given to native species which can grow in harsh habitat conditions and are well resistant to wind, storms, or pests;

For the subject matter specified at Point c, Clause 1 of this Article, species adaptable to saltwater and brackish water environments shall be selected; the priority shall be given to native or imported species that have been successfully planted on estuarine and coastal alluvial plains and other harsh habitat conditions;

b) For the subject matter specified at Points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article, vegetation shall be cleared by strips or groves. The vegetation shall be gathered along the contour lines and not burned; Vegetation in any slope of less than 15 degrees may be clear-cut, but a belt of greenery must be left at the top of slope, along streams, banks of rivers or lakes. When clearing the vegetation, all existing timber trees and regenerated target trees must be kept; in any slope of more than 15 degrees, only digging local planting holes alternately according to the shape of crocodile fangs along the contour lines or perpendicularly to the main wind direction with the size of 30 x 30 x 30 cm or more, then filling the holes and applying basal fertilizers;

c) For the subject matter specified at Point c, Clause 1 of this Article, forest trees shall be planted in areas with large waves with stakes to hold up them; building garbage barriers or wave-damping fences in floodplains at estuaries and coastal areas;

d) Standards of seedlings to be planted comply with Point d, Clause 2, Article 9 of this Circular;

dd) Planting density: depending on the specific conditions of each protection forest and the selected species, determining the appropriate planting density, ensuring the density of the main tree species of 400 trees/ha or more;

e) Planting method: planting pure light-loving species or a mix of many species into strips or groves; possibly intercropping native trees with auxiliary trees to improve the land and increase income; for places with poor habitat conditions and poor nutrition, it is allowed to plant pure fast-growing species to improve the land in 1 harvest cycle and conduct reforestation as prescribed at Point b, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular;

g) Other specific technical measures in line with the technical guidelines on afforestation for each species.

Article 11. Afforestation of productive forests

1. Subject matter:

a) Any area of non-forested land that is vacant land or land with the scattered vegetation of grasses and reeds;

b) Non-forested land or land with the vegetation of scattered shrubs and timber trees, regenerated target trees with a height of more than 0.5 m with the number of less than 500 trees/ha that are not capable of being restored into forests of economic value.

c) Any area of bamboo that has the cover of less than 20% and is unlikely to be restored into a forest of economic value; any area covered by species such as “giang” (Maclurochloa sp.), “le” (Pseudoxynanthera), “lịm” (Melocalamus sp.) of any density.

2. Measures:

a) Selecting species: selecting main species suitable for production and business purposes and habitat conditions of the places where they are planted; possibly selecting auxiliary species (food crops, non-timber forest plants, industrial crops, fruit trees) for intercropping in order to improve the land and support the main species to grow well;

b) Treatment of vegetation: comprehensively clearing the vegetation in strips or groves depending on the habitat conditions and ecological characteristics of the tree species. Cut-down vegetation shall be gathered within its strips and the burning thereof shall be limited. In case of burning the vegetation, it must be burned within its strips or groves and under control;

c) Tilling: Conducting comprehensive tillage by mechanical or manual methods and local tillage along strips or in groves, taking measures to limit soil erosion for slopes of more than 25 degrees, such as constructing contour bunds along contour lines; possibly digging trenches, making ridges, and leveling to create surfaces for forest plantations in places with special habitat conditions;

d) Seedlings to be planted must meet the standards and have the quality as prescribed;

dd) Planting density: depending on the tree species, habitat conditions, planting methods and business purposes, determining the appropriate planting density;

e) Planting method: depending on the habitat conditions and business purposes, selecting the method of planting pure species or a mix of many species or intercropping forest trees with food crops and non-timber forest plants;

g) For fire-prone forests, it is necessary to build wildfire defensible buffer strips and boundaries and take measures to prevent forest fires in accordance with the laws;

h) Other specific technical measures in line with the technical guidelines on afforestation for each species.

Article 12. Reforestation

1. Subject matter:

a) Any area of forest plantations after clear-cutting;

b) Any area of forests damaged by natural disturbances and other causes, which cannot be restored naturally;

c) Any area of protection forests and special-use forests (except for strictly protected sub-zones) after the harvest of intercropped species and planting of fast-growing trees for land improvement.

2. Measures:

a) For the subject matter specified at Points a and b, Clause 1 of this Article, which belongs to special-use forests, technical measures for afforestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 9 of this Circular shall be taken;

For the subject matter that belongs to protection forests, technical measures for afforestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 10 of this Circular shall be taken;

For the subject matter that belongs to productive forests, technical measures for afforestation as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular shall be taken, and after 03 or more harvest cycles, the current species shall be replaced by another suitable forest tree species in order to limit the attack of pests and diseases or prevent the reduction in the productivity and quality of forest plantations.

b) For the subject matter specified at Point c, Clause 1 of this Article, the measure of harvesting trees in strips when they show signs of aging and poor growth shall be taken; the width of the strips to be cut down and retained strips shall be equal to 2/3 of the height of the forest trees;

Other technical measures as prescribed in Points a, b, dd, e, g, and h, Clause 2, Article 7 of this Circular shall be taken;

When the trees reach the height of 08 m or more, the retained strips should be harvested and reforested as if they were the strips to be cut down.

Article 13. Caring for forest plantations

1. Subject matter:

a) Any forest up to 3 years old as for fast-growing trees;

b) Any forest up to 5 years old as for slow-growing trees and any coastal forest plantation.

2. Measures:

a) Clearing invasive shrubs, vines and weeds; tilling the land and earthing up the trees; protecting regenerated target trees;

Number of times: depending on how the invasive vegetation affects the growth of the trees, caring for the forests for appropriate times; on average 2 times per year;

c) Applying additional fertilizers: depending on the growth and development characteristics of the forests, deciding on the time, the number of times of applying additional fertilizers, the type and volume of the additional fertilizers; additional fertilizers shall be applied together with tilling the land and earthing up the trees;

d) Replacing dead trees: 1 month after planting, checking the survival rate; if it is less than 85% compared to the initial planting density, replacement trees shall be planted;

dd) In addition to the provisions in Clause 2 of this Article, specific technical measures to care for terrestrial forest plantations and planted mangroves must comply with the technical guidelines for each species.

Article 14. Nursing forest plantations

1. Subject matter:

a) Any productive plantation in the period from young, closed canopy forest to between 02 years and 04 years for fast-growing species, and between 06 years and 10 years for slow-growing species, prior to the main harvest;

b) Any productive plantation of fast-growing, pure-species, evenly-aged trees in good habitats conditions with a soil layer thickness of more than 50 cm, in an area where there are no storms or tornadoes, but there are such disasters but they are at below level 6; the planting density of over 1000 trees/ha and is capable of being transformed from a small-timber plantation to a large-timber plantation within a specific period of time.

2. Measures:

a) Clearing vines, shrubs and invasive weeds;

b) Thinning trees that are crooked, diseased, pinched, truncated and do not meet business purposes as well as some trees grow normally but the density is too thick; keeping healthy trees with well-proportioned foliage, straight and round stems;

The thinning intensity has 04 different levels: low level: the distance between detained trees is less than 1/3 of its crown diameter at the main harvestable age; medium level: the distance between detained trees is between 1/3 and less than 1/2 of its crown diameter at the main harvestable age; high level: the distance between detained trees is between 1/2 and nearly its crown diameter at the main harvestable age; particularly high level: the distance between detained trees is equal to or more than its crown diameter at the main harvestable age;

The forests should be thinned from 01 to 03 times; the interval is from 3 to 6 years depending on planted tree species, habitat conditions, age of planted trees as well as thinning intensity; the forests shall be thinned again when their canopies are closed after the previous thinning;

Thinning time: in the dry season or the months with little rain (before or after the growing season);

Thinning technique: the height of the cutting stump should not be higher than 2/3 of the diameter of the tree stump, choosing the falling direction of the cut-down trees that does not affect the retained trees; no more than 03 adjacent trees shall be thinned and the retained trees must be evenly distributed in the forest.

c) Cleaning and caring for forests after thinning: Cleaning the forests, collecting and moving tree trunks and large branches out of the forests; collecting and chopping small branches into pieces and gathered them within the strips, which shall not be burnt; taking measures to prevent and fight forest fires;

d) Pruning branches: pruning the target trees, cutting off extra trunks and branches that are too large and located below the canopy (older branches, below 1/3 of the tree height); cutting close to the trunks to avoid scratching the barks;

e) The density of retained trees at the time of main harvest is between 400 trees/ha and 800 trees/ha for forest plantations of fast-growing tree species with a large-timber business cycle of between 10 and 15 years; or between 300 trees/ha and 700 trees/ha for forest plantations of slow-growing tree species with a large-timber business cycle of more than 15 years;

g) For the subject matter specified at Point b, Clause 1 of this Article, in addition to applying the technical measures specified in Clause 2 of this Article, depending on the habitat conditions and the level of intensive farming, the fertilizers may be applied after thinning. Fertilizers shall be applied at the beginning of the rainy season. The type and amount of fertilizers to be applied depends on the habitat conditions and the growth characteristics of the species;

h) Other specific technical measures in line with the technical guidelines for each species.

Chapter III

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 15. Responsibilities of State management agencies

1. The Vietnam Administration of Forestry shall:

a) Organize and guide the implementation of this Circular nationwide;

b) Formulate and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for promulgation of the technical guidelines for plantation of major forest tree species;

c) Inspect and evaluate the implementation of the localities.

2. The Provincial-level Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

a) Organize and guide the implementation of this Circular in the localities;

b) Inspect and guide organizations, households, individuals and communities during their implementation of the silvicultural measures prescribed in this Circular;

c) Develop and issue technical guidelines for plantation of specific tree species in their respective provincial-level locality according to their competence.

Article 16. Responsibilities of organizations, households, individuals and communities

1. Organizations, households, individuals and communities shall take silvicultural measures prescribed in this Circular.

2. Forest owners are responsible for implementing as well as inspecting and supervising the implementation of silvicultural measures prescribed in this Circular.

Article 17. Transitional provisions

Programs and projects involving silvicultural measures that were approved before the effective date of this Circular and are currently being implemented shall continue to be implemented until they are tested for acceptance and termination.

Article 18. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from January 01, 2019.

2. The following documents cease to be effective from the effective date of this Circular, including: Circular No. 23/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 4, 2013 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development providing for the improvement of exhausted natural productive forests; Decision No. 175/1998/QD-BNN-KHCN dated November 4, 1998 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgating the Regulations on forest restoration by zoning for natural regeneration with additional planting (QPN 21-98); Decision No. 200/QD-KT dated March 31, 1993 of the Ministry of Forestry promulgating the Regulations on silvicultural solutions applicable to timber and bamboo productive forests (QPN 14-92); Decision No. 184/QD-KT dated April 4, 1991 of the Ministry of Forestry promulgating the Technical Regulations on establishment of watershed protection forests (QPN 13-91).

3. In the course of implementation, if any problems arise, concerned agencies, organizations, households and individuals shall promptly report them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance, study for amendment and supplementation./.

For the Minister
Deputy Minister
Ha Cong Tuan