Decision No. 419/QD-TTg dated April 5, 2017 of the Prime Minister on approving the national program on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation; conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forest resources through 2030

THE PRIME MINISTER

DecisionNo.  419/QD-TTg dated April 5, 2017 of the Prime Minister on approving the national program on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation; conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forest resources through 2030

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP of September 24, 2010, on the policy on payment for forest environment services and Decree No. 147/2016/ND-CP of November 2,2016, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister s Decision No. 2139/QD-TTg of December 5, 2011, approving the national strategy for climate change;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister s Decision No. 1393/QD-TTg of September 25, 2012, approving the national strategy for green growth;

Pursuant to Decision No. 01/COP16; Decisions No. 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15/COP19 of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2053/QD-TTg of October 28, 2016, promulgating the Plan to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change;

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

DECIDES:

Article 1:To approve the national program on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation, conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forest resources (below referred to as REDD+ Program) through 2030, with the following principal contents:

1. Viewpoints:

- The REDD+ Program contributes to the implementation of the sustainable forestry development program, the national strategy for climate change, the national strategy for green growth associated with sustainable development, ensures the national environmental security and hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

- The REDD+ Program must be conformable with policies and laws of Vietnam and compliant with treaties and international agreements that Vietnam has acceded to or signed.

- The implementation of the REDD+ Program must ensure compliance with the State’s direction, management and administration; bring into the fullest play the involvement and monitoring by socio-political organizations, professional associations, non-governmental organizations and communities; and effectively take advantage of international cooperation mechanisms.

- REDD+ activities are designed to address the causes of deforestation and forest degradation, integrate gender issues and take measures to ensure security in REDD+, the full and effective participation of related parties, including also ethnic minority groups and women in local communities; REDD+ activities should be carried out in line with Vietnam’s specific conditions and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), taking into account socio-economic efficiency and risk factors.

- The REDD+ Program actively contributes to shifting priority to the improvement of natural and planted forest quality, mitigating deforestation to maximize socio-economic and environmental benefits; and exploiting forest environment services and creating sustainable financial sources for forest protection and development.

2. Objectives

a/ Overall objectives

To contribute to protecting and improving natural forest quality, expanding planted forest areas and improve planted forest quality; to combine and integrate the achievement of national targets of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, forest protection and development and green growth; to attract international assistance and access the carbon credit market; to improve people’s living conditions and sustainably develop the nation.

b/ Specific objectives

-The 2017-2020period:

+ By 2020, to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through REDD+ activities, to increase the national forest coverage to 42% and the forest area to 14.4 million hectares.

+ To be ready to implement the REDD+ Program and ensure sufficient capacity to access results-based financing in conformity with international requirements.

+ To improve natural and planted forest quality so as to increase carbon accumulation and forest environment services; to expand effective afforestation models; to manage, protect and sustainably conserve natural forests.

+ To improve forest governance, generate jobs and improve people’s living conditions associated with building a new countryside and ensuring national defense and security.

-The 2021-2030 period:

+ To stabilize the natural forest coverage through 2030 to be at least equal to that of 2020 and increase the national forest coverage to 45%7contributing to fulfilling the national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% below the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario under the Paris Agreement by 2030 and by 25% if receiving international assistance.

+ To expand highly efficient REDD+ and sustainable forest management models, integrate the REDD+ Program with the sustainable forestry development program.

+ To refine policies, laws and the action framework of the REDD+ Program and access results-based financing in conformity with international requirements.

3. Scope, subjects and period of implementation

- This program shall be carried out nationwide, and prioritize hotspots of deforestation and forest degradation and areas prone to climate change impacts and boasting potential of enhancing forest carbon stocks.

- Subjects: Agencies, organizations, households, individuals and communities involved in forest management, protection and development; agencies, organizations and individuals involved in implementing and operating the REDD+ Program.

- Implementation period: From 2017 through 2030.

4. The Program’s principal contents

a/ Groups of activities to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation

- To further review and adjust forest and forest land use master plans in order to achieve the target of 16.24 million hectares of land used for forestry purposes by 2020.

- To support sustainable agriculture and fishery without causing deforestation and forest degradation.

- To improve forest governance and livelihood of people living in and near the forests.

- To enhance forestry law enforcement.

b/ Group of activities to conserve and enhance carbon stocks and sustainably manage forest resources.

- To evaluate and expand high-yield and large-timber forest business models.

- To pilot, evaluate and expand sustainable natural forest management models; to protect, conserve and rehabilitate forests.

- To improve the economic and financial environment for forestry.

c/ Improving factors ready for implementing the REDD+ Program in conformity with international requirements.

- To complete key REDD+ factors according to the roadmap and comply with provisions of the UNFCCC.

- To establish and implement the financial management mechanism for the REDD+ Program.

- To promote international and regional cooperation to speed up REDD+ activities and minimize emission transfer risks.

- To disseminate public information about, build capacity and supervise the implementation of the REDD+ Program.

The detailed contents of the above activities are provided in the Appendix to this Decision (not translated).

5. Solutions for implementation

a/ To further supplement and complete the legal framework for the REDD+ Program implementation

- To review, revise and complete legal documents on land, forestry, finance andenvironmentprotection, measures to ensure safety in the implementation of the REDD+ Program and other relevant legal documents in accordance with Vietnam’s law and international regulations and practices.

- To develop mechanisms for promoting and supervising inter-sectoral cooperation at all levels, closely connect with the private sector and promote the public-private partnership model; to encourage the involvement of socio-political organizations, professional associations, non-governmental organizations and communities in planning, implementing and supervising the implementation of the REDD+ Program and projects;

- To guide the mobilization, coordination and supervision of financial sources for the REDD+ Program implementation.

- To build the national standard system on forest certification; to develop regulations and standards for silvi-cultural technical measures, sustainable forest management and exploitation of timber and non-timber forest products; regulations on forest carbon change investigation, evaluation and monitoring, assessment of forest carbon capture and storage levels; methods of testing and verification of forest-related greenhouse gas emissions results.

- To build a REDD+ Program implementation supervision and evaluation framework; to institutionalize the right of ethnic minority and forest-dependent communities and women in preparing and implementing the REDD+ Program.

b/ Funding solutions

- Domestic funding sources:

+ State budget funds from the target programs on sustainable forestry development, response to climate change and green growth, vocational training-employment and occupational safety, agricultural economic restructuring and disaster prevention, control and mitigation, stabilization of residents’ life and other programs and projects in the 2016-2020 period.

+ Investments of enterprises and other economic entities via the market; money collected from forest value compensation, contributions of the people and funds of other related programs and projects.

+ Credit loans (including development investment and commercial credit loans).

- International funding sources

Contributions, finance and trusts of foreign governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, enterprises, individuals and other financial institutions; and financing based on REDD+ implementation results, including revenues from forest carbon credit trading.

- Other lawful funding sources.

c/ To investigate and oversee forest changes and inventory forests and forest land on a periodical basis; to complete and modernize the forestry information system so as to increase transparency and share data and contributions of parties implementing REDD+.

d/ To integrate the REDD+ Program, apply REDD+ standards and best practices in the forestry planning process. To involve local people and communities and organizations in planning, implementing and monitoring the REDD+ implementation.

dd/ To apply advanced science and technology and draw on traditional knowledge and experiences in the management, protection, development, exploitation and use of natural resources in an environment-friendly and material-conserving manner.

e/ To enhance international cooperation to diversify financial sources for implementing the program and contributing to achieving the neighboring countries’ REDD+ targets.

- To actively and proactively cooperate with international organizations, programs and initiatives on fulfilling the REDD+, climate change, green growth and sustainable development objectives in order to mobilize financial and technical assistance for deploying and speeding up the REDD+ Program implementation.

- To actively share experiences and information, promote regional and international cooperation and implement bilateral agreements with neighboring countries and treaties on environment and forestry which Vietnam has signed.

g/Monitoring and evaluation

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related agencies and units in, monitoring and evaluating the Program annually.

- The monitoring and evaluation system

+ By the end of 2017, to put into place a monitoring and evaluation system to support the collection of data, analysis of results and impacts of finance, management and implementation of the REDD+ Program.

+ To timely monitor and evaluate policies and measures to implement the REDD+ Program at provincial and national levels within the responsibility of each agency, ministry and sector.

+ To ensure transparency, publicity and participation of representatives of related parties that implement the REDD+ Program in the areas of finance and organization of implementation, including state agencies, socio-political organizations, non-governmental organizations and related international organizations.

+ The REDD+ Program monitoring and evaluation indicator system and framework must comply with regulations of competent agencies.

6. Organization of implementation

a/ Program administration and management:

- The State Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development Plan (established under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 58/QD-TTg of January 9,2012) shall direct the implementation of the REDD+ Program.

- The REDD+ Office shall assist the State Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development Plan under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in connecting and coordinating activities among the REDD+ Program implementers; negotiating, receiving and distributing support sources from domestic and foreign organizations for REDD+ implementation; guiding localities in formulating and implementing REDD+ programs in the provinces; providing technical assistance and managing information on the REDD+ Program; and performing other tasks assigned by the State Steering Committee.

b/ Responsibilities of related ministries and agencies

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees in, organizing the implementation of the Program.

+ Elaborate and submit to competent authorities for approval or approve according to its competence medium-term and annual implementation plans.

+ Set up the Vietnam REDD+ Fund; issue the REDD+ Fund’s organization and operation regulation in accordance with Vietnam’s laws and international regulations and practices.

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, revising, supplementing and formulating policies to ensure the fulfillment of the program’s targets and submitting them to competent agencies for promulgation.

+ Assume the prime responsibility for forming a number of units providing advice and supporting the monitoring of the REDD+ Program implementation when necessary.

+ To coordinate the implementation of the REDD+ Program, provide technical assistance, collect and synthesize data from implementing agencies, covering implementation measures, progress and results, evaluation and analysis.

+ Annually, coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and related ministries and sectors in, summarizing and reviewing the funding demand and the list of REDD+ projects for inclusion into the national target program on response to climate change and related programs and projects;

+ Assume the prime responsibility for building and guide the application of the process of REDD+ Program monitoring and evaluation and announcement of monitoring and evaluation results and notify them to the focal unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for coordination and information.

+ Raise international funds for the REDD+ Program implementation; under the Government’s authorization, negotiate and conclude financial assistance agreements with international donors that commit to contributing to the Vietnam REDD+ Fund in accordance with law.

+ Give advice to the Prime Minister on the assignment of specific tasks and direction of the enhancement of coordination among ministries and sectors and bring into play the role of socio-political organizations in the implementation of the Program.

+ Review and evaluate the implementation of the program in the 2016-2020 period and propose adjustments to the Prime Minister for the 2021-2030 period.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, incorporating data on the process and results of REDD+ implementation in the national notification report and biennial update reports for submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat.

+ Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in setting up and completing the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system, the forest reference levels/forest reference emission levels (FRELs/FRLs) and evaluation of emission reduction results of the REDD+ Program.

+ Assume the prime responsibility for land planning and administration, covering forest land, and coordinate in the inclusion of the REDD+ Program into land use master plans at all levels.

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, directing and guiding provincial-level People’s Committees in reviewing and completing the allocation of land associated with forests and the grant of land use right certificates; adopt according to its competence or submit to competent authorities for adoption mechanisms and policies on forest land allocation and lease related to the REDD+ Program implementation;

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Ministry of Finance shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, developing the financial management mechanism for the REDD+ Fund, and mechanisms and policies relating to the financial management and use of the REDD+ Program.

+ Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in balancing and allocating funds for the Program under the approved schedule and plan.

+ Supervise involved parties in properly performing the financial management of the REDD+ Program.

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, balancing and allocating domestic funds for projects to implement the REDD+ Program;

+ Integrate the REDD+ Program with the national target programs in the course of implementation;

+ Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance in developing mechanisms and policies to manage and implement the REDD+ Program.

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, providing guidance on foreign investment for Vietnamese enterprises, especially in sustainable management of forest resources.

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

+ Direct and review the master plan on hydropower system, remove from the master plan hydropower works that greatly affect biodiversity conservation of the natural forest ecosystem and national environmental security.

+ To direct the strict observation of regulations on plantation of replacing forests or financial contributions to compensate for damages caused by the construction of hydropower works.

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, guiding and directing press agencies in communication activities to raise the awareness and responsibility of agencies, organizations and individuals in the REDD+ Program implementation.

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Ministry of Justice shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, providing public information and organizing education about the law relating to the implementation of the REDD+ Program.

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- The Committee for Ethnic Affairs shall:

+ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in, disseminating information among and raising the awareness and capacity of ethnic minority people and mobilize them to actively participate in REDD+ activities; integrate the REDD+ Program with the implementation of related programs and projects under its state management;

+ Perform the tasks of a member of the Steering Committee under the assignment of the Head of the Steering Committee.

- Related ministries and sectors shall, within the ambit of their state management tasks and functions, proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in implementing the REDD+ Program and directing units under their management in the REDD+ Program implementation.

c/ Responsibilities of provincial-level People’s Committees

- To disseminate information about REDD+ activities in their localities.

- To add REDD+ tasks to their existing provincial-level State Steering Committees for Forest Protection and Development.

- To prepare provincial-level action plans for REDD+ to implement the REDD+ Program in their localities; to integrate provincial-level action plans for REDD+ with forest protection and development plans in their localities.

- To proactively mobilize additional resources and integrate the REDD+ Program implementation with the implementation of the policy on payment of forest environment service charges and related programs and projects in their localities in order to achieve the Program’s objectives.

- To coordinate with related ministries and sectors in directing and inspecting the REDD+ Program implementation by local organizations and individuals according to this Decision.

- To periodically report the implementation and fulfillment of the objectives and tasks of the REDD+ Program in their provinces or cities.

d/ Political, social and professional organizations, mass organizations, non- governmental organizations and enterprises

Political, social and professional organizations, mass organizations, non-governmental organizations and enterprises shall, depending on their functions, tasks and capacity, proactively propose, implement and participate in REDD+ Program-related activities, especially information, education and communication activities; support and mobilize the community to participate in REDD+ implementation; disseminate experiences on and inspect and monitor the REDD+ Program implementation.

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing and replaces the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 799/QD-TTg of June 27, 2012, approving the national action program on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation, sustainable management of forest resources, and conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks during 2011-2020.

Article 3.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees and heads of related agencies and units shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister

Trinh Dinh Dung