Decision No. 1479/QD-TTg dated October 13, 2008 of the Prime Minister approving the Planning on the system of inland water conservation zones up to 2020

DECISION

APPROVING THE PLANNING ON THE SYSTEM OF INLAND WATER CONSERVATION ZONES UP TO 2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25. 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the November 26. 2003 Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 27/2005/ND-CP of March 8, 2005, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Fisheries;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 109/2003/ND-CP of September 23, 2003, on conservation and sustainable development of submerged areas;

At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To approve the Planning on the system of inland water conservation zones up to 2020, with the following principal contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS

1. The Planning on the system of inland water conservation zones must comply with the fisheries sector development strategy and master plan up to 2010, and orientations towards 2020, already approved by the Prime Minister.

2. Surveys and scientific researches of aquatic resources and biodiversity of the aquatic eco-system in inland water areas must be carried out one step ahead, firstly in water areas with aquatic species which are precious and rare, highly endangered and of economic and scientific value.

3. Inland water conservation must be regarded as an urgent as well as long-term duty of the entire society; at the same time, policies and measures must be adopted and international cooperation be promoted to protect and reasonably exploit aquatic resources, sustainably develop fishing trades, and protect the diversity of the aquatic eco-system of inland water areas.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. Overall objectives

To step by step form a system of conservation zones in order to protect, restore and regenerate aquatic resources, especially rare and precious aquatic species of high economic and scientific value, and protect aquatic eco-systems in inland water areas; to encourage community participation in the management, exploitation and reasonable use of aquatic resources, ensure ecological balance, and preserve a high level of biodiversity in inland water areas.

2. Specific objectives

a/The 2008-2010 period:

- To complete the planning on the system of inland water conservation zones.

- To establish and put into operation five conservation zones representing the Red river and Mekong river basins and Central Highlands.

b/The 2011-2015 period:

To establish and put into operation 25 inland water conservation zones, including a conservation zone for transnational species.

c/The 2016-2020 period:

- To establish and put into operation 15 inland water conservation zones.

- To perfect the system of inland water conservation zones (a list of inland water conservation zones is included the attached appendix).

III. SCOPE OF THE PLANNING

The system of inland water conservation zones will be planned and built in 63 provinces and cities across the country and divided into seven agricultural economic regions, namely, northern mountainous. Red river delta, northern Central Vietnam, southern Central Vietnam, Central Highlands, eastern south Vietnam and Mekong river delta regions;

IV. TASKS OF THE PLANNING

1.The 2008-2010 period

- To complete the planning on the system of inland water conservation zones and submit it to competent authorities for approval.

- To perfect detailed plannings and compile dossiers for submission to competent authorities for approval on the establishment of five

representative inland water conservation zones in three regions: Red river delta (two zones), Mekong river delta (two zones), and the Central Highlands (one zone).

- To build a database on biodiversity and the current state of the eco-systems of water basins and endangered precious and rare aquatic species in inland water area conservation zones nationwide.

2. The 2011-2015 period

- To perfect detailed plannings and compile dossiers for submission to competent authorities for approval on the establishment of another 25 inland water conservation zones.

- To continue updating and supplementing the database on the current state of the ecosystems of water basins and endangered precious and rare aquatic species in inland water area conservation zones nationwide.

- To train and build a contingent of managerially and professionally capable conservation officials at central and local levels: to provide training in relevant basic knowledge for officials and population communities in localities with conservation zones.

3. The 2016-2020 period

- To continue drawing up detailed plannings on remaining water basins and conservation zones;

- To perfect detailed plannings and compile dossiers for submission to competent authorities for approval on the establishment of another 15 inland water conservation zones.

- To form a network of inland water conservation zones in Vietnam.

- To supervise and control developments in biodiversity, eco-systems and precious and rare aquatic species in each conservation zone; to supplement and update the situation and developments of the entire system of conservation zones on the database to serve management work.

- To attract resources of local communities, and domestic and foreign organizations and individuals for the construction and management of inland water conservation zones in order to effectively manage, exploit and use these zones, create a livelihood for local communities and contribute to protecting the ecological environment.

V. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. To study and formulate mechanisms and policies to encourage organizations and individuals, especially population communities, to participate in protecting and reasonably exploiting aquatic resources and protecting the aquatic eco-systems in inland water areas; to assign tasks and delegate responsibilities to local administrations in organizing the management and protection of conservation zones in their localities.

2. To formulate and effectively implement investigation and scientific research schemes and projects to provide grounds for identifying and proposing conservation zones, and specific conservation measures to be applied in each zone. For the immediate future, to concentrate on investigating and researching some water basins with many rare and precious aquatic species, highly endangered species and those of economic and scientific value.

3. To promote public information and propaganda about the interests and responsibilities of the society, especially population communities living around conservation zones, for the preservation and protection of conservation zones, contribute to protecting the diversity of the aquatic ecosystems and aquatic resources in inland water areas. To organize the selection and the building of models of community-based management of conservation zones in localities with favorable conditions. To train and build a contingent of managerially and professionally capable conservation officials at central and local levels; at the same time to provide training in relevant basic know ledge for officials and population communities in localities.

4.To promote international cooperation with a view to attracting aid and financial and technical assistance for investigation, scientific research and human resource training; to expand scientific exchange and cooperation with other countries, first of all with neighboring countries, to learn experience on the management and protection of inland water conservation zones.

5. To study, formulate and perfect legal documents on management of inland conservation zones: government decrees and guiding circulars on the regulation on management of conservation zones, classification criteria, order and procedures for the establishment of inland water zones, etc.

6. Investment capital needs

State budget investments will be concentrated on the formulation of a master plan and detailed plannings on 45 inland water conservation zones, construction of essential infrastructure facilities and supporting activities of the program management board and development of conservation zones of national and international importance or those located in two or more provinces. To mobilize the participation and financial assistance of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in the investment in and management, exploitation and use of other conservation zones.

Total fund is projected and allocated for different periods as follows:

Total fund is projected at about VND 85 billion, including:

- VND 15 billion for the 2008-2010 period;

- VND 50 billion for the 2011-2015 period;

- VND 20 billion for the 2016-2020 period.

VI. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches and localities in deploying the implementation of this Planning.

- Direct and guide localities in making and submitting to competent authorities for approval plans on the establishment of inland water conservation zones according to their delegated responsibilities in geo-ecological areas nationwide.

- Build and manage national inland water conservation zones established by the Prime Minister.

2. Concerned ministries and branches

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall, in pursuance to this Planning, arrange and allocate investment capital to specific projects so that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and concerned localities can properly implement the Planning.

- Concerned ministries and branches shall participate in and facilitate the formation and proper management of the system of inland water conservation zones.

3. People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall:

- Direct their functional agencies in making and submitting to competent authorities plans on the establishment and management of inland water conservation zones according to their decentralized competence.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and concerned agencies in popularizing, disseminating and educating in the law, benefits and responsibilities in the protection and participation in the management of conservation zones; at the same time direct further examination and control of law enforcement work in this domain: and build models of local community-based management of inland water conservation zones.

- Arrange local budget funds and apply mechanisms to encourage all economic sectors to participate in building and effectively exploiting conservation zones in their localities.

Article 2.- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO "

Article 3.- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and presidents of People's Committees of provinces and central ly run cities shall implement this Decision.

APPENDIX

SYSTEM OF INLAND WATER CONSERVATION ZONES UPT TO 2020

(Attached to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1479/QD-TTg of October 15, 2008)

LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES IN THE SYSTEM OF INLAND WATER CONSERVATION ZONES UP TO 2020