Decision No. 45/QD-TTg dated January 08, 2014 of the Prime Minister on approving the master plan on nation-wide biodiversity conservation by 2020, with a vision to 2030

THE PRIME MINISTER

Decision No. 45/QD-TTg dated January 08, 2014 of the Prime Minister on approving the master plan on nation-wide biodiversity conservation by 2020, with a vision to 2030

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Biodiversity dated November 13, 2008;

Pursuant to Decree No . 65/2010/ND-CP dated June 11, 2010 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on biodiversity;

At the proposal of Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the master plan on nation-wide biodiversity conservation by 2020, with a vision to 2030 with the main contents as follows:

I. VIEWPOINT AND OBJECTIVE

1. Supervision viewpoint

a) Combining in-situ conservation with ex-situ conservation and other forms of conservation to effectively ensure the work of conservation, consistency and conformity with condition of each region in the country without affecting the national defense and security;

b) Harmoniously combining between conservation with rational exploitation and use of biological resources, focusing on maintaining and developing ecosystem services, environment and landscape of biodiversity.

c) Being consistent with the criteria of the Law on the basis of maximizing the legacy of achievements and maintaining the stability of the system of existing special use forest, sea and inland water reserves;

d) Ensuring the safe biodiversity, mitigating the degradation and depletion of natural resources, minimizing and adapting to climate change.

dd) Mobilizing all resources and experience of organizations, individuals and communities in the conservation of biodiversity, ensuring the principles of equitable and harmonious sharing of interests of the parties concerned.

e) Strengthening cooperation with other countries and international organizations on biodiversity conservation, especially with bordering countries.

2. Objective by 2020

a) General objectives:

Ensuring important natural ecosystems, the endangered, precious and rare species and genetic resources are conserved and sustainable developed; maintaining and developing the ecosystem services to adapt to climate change in order to promote sustainable development of the country.

b) Specific objectives:

- Identifying and zoning to protect the important natural ecosystems. Improving the quality and increasing the area of​​natural ecosystems that are protected on a national scale, improving the forest cover to 45%; conserving and having plan for effectively protecting 0.57 million hectares of primary forest in the Central Highlands, Southeast and North Central; protecting and sustainable developing approximate 60,000 hectares of natural mangrove forests; protecting the ecosystems of coral reefs, sea grass beds in the South Central and Southeast regions; protecting the ecosystems of coastal lagoons in North Central, South Central and Southeast and restoring 2,000 hectares of forest on limestone mountains in the Northeast.

- Completing the planning of system of protected areas; proposing the adjustment of land use plan for the period 2016 - 2020, ensuring the land reserve established and putting into operation 46 new protected areas with a total area of​​about 567,000 ha, raising the total area of​​protected area system in the country to about 2.94 million ha.

- Developing and upgrading the system of 26 biodiversity conservation facilities and formulating the development plan with the types: 04 botanical gardens in the geographic regions: Northeast, Red River Delta and the Southeast; 05 national medicinal plant gardens in geographic regions: Northeast, Northwest, Red River Delta, North Central and Southeast; 02 national zoological gardens in geographic regions: the Red River Delta and Southeast; 12 stations / animal rescue centers nation-wide 03 gene bank in the Red River delta.

- Establishing and putting into operation 04 biodiversity corridors in 02 Northeast and South Central regions with a total area of​​about 120,000 ha to connect habitats and enhance the capacity to respond to climate change of the ecosystems and species.

3. Vision to 2030

- Continuing to protect natural ecosystems of national and international importance, ecosystems of coral reef, sea grass bed, natural mangrove, coastal lagoon and degraded limestone mountain.

- Continuing to establish and put into operation the protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors that have been proposed;

II. PLANNING TASKS

A. MAIN CONTENTS

1.By 2020:

Planning the biodiversity conservation by 2020 with 08 geographical areas on a national scale under the 04 subjects, including natural ecosystems, protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors as follows:

a) Northeast region:

- Protecting the natural forest ecosystems of Red River, Lo and Gam basin; ecosystems of limestone mountain in Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, wetland ecosystems in Dam Ha, Yen Hung (Quang Ninh).

- Converting 36 existing protected areas into the system of protected area under the Law on biodiversity with the total area of about 265.800 ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 03 biodiversity conservation facilities, including 01 animal rescue center, 01 botanical garden and 01 medicinal plant garden.

- Establishing and putting into operation 01 biodiversity corridor with an area of about 506 ha connecting the habitat between Na Hang protected area and Ba Be national Park;

b)Northwest region:

- Protecting the natural forest ecosystem of Da and Ma river basin; forest at altitude over 1,500 m in Lao Cai and Son La.

- Converting 15 existing protected area into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 261,500 ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 02 biodiversity conservation facilities, including 01 animal rescue center and 01 medicinal plant garden;

c) Red river Delta:

- Protecting the natural mangrove ecosystems in Hai Phong, Thai Binh, the importance wetland ecosystems in Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh.

- Converting 11 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 88,000ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 08 biodiversity conservation facilities, including 02 animal rescue centers, 01 medicinal plant garden, 01 zoological garden, 01 medicinal plant garden and 03 gene banks;

d) North Central region:

- Protecting the primary forest ecosystems in Nghe An and Ha Tinh; the natural forest in the basin of Ma, Ca and Gianh rivers; the coastal mangrove forest in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa, the limestone ecosystems in Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh; the Tam Giang – Cau Hai lagoon ecosystems in Thua Thien Hue;

- Converting 21 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 630,000ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 03 biodiversity conservation facilities, including 02 animal rescue centers, 01 medicinal plant garden;

dd) South Central region:

- Protecting the natural forest ecosystems of Cai river (Phu Yen province, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa), Con river, Da Rang river, Ba river, Tra Khuc river and Thu Bon river basin; the dipterocarp forest ecosystems in Ninh Son (Ninh Thuan), Hoan Giao (Khanh Hoa), the coral reefs and seagrass beds in Cu Lao Cham, Ninh Hai, Vinh Hy bay, Cam Ranh bay, Thuy Trien pond rammer and Van Phong bay; welt land ecosystems of Thi Nai pond rammer, Tra O, Cu Mong, O Loan and Nha Phu.

- Converting 22 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 347,000 ha.

- Establishing and putting into operation 03 biodiversity corridors connecting the protected areas in the South Central with an area of about 118,700 ha.

e) Central Highlands:

- Protecting the primary forest ecosystems including: average mountain forest (Ngoc Linh, Chu Yang Sin), semi-deciduous forest (Giant Crape-myrtle forest), deciduous dipterocarp forest (dipterocarp forest); natural forest of Sesan, Ba and Dong Nai river basin;

- Converting 16 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 461,000ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 03 animal rescue centers;

g) Southeast region:

- Protecting the primary forest ecosystems, coral reef and sea grass beds ecosystems in Ca Na and Con Dao; the wetland ecosystems in Thi Nai pond rammer and Can Gio mangrove forest.

- Converting 11 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 212,000 ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 06 biodiversity conservation facilities, including: 02 animal rescue centers, 02 botanical gardens, 01 medicinal plant garden and 01 zoological garden;

h) Mekong River Delta:

- Protecting and sustainable developing 30,000 hectares of natural mangrove forest ecosystems and the coral reef and sea grass beds ecosystems in Phu Quoc, the mangrove ecosystems and melaleuca forest ecosystems in Tram Chim, U Minh and Tra Su.

- Converting 21 existing protected areas into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity with a total area of about 106,500 ha.

- Upgrading and establishing 01 animal rescue center;

i) During the period from 2016 - 2020 , the planning orientation to establish 46 new protected areas with an area of​​about 567,000 ha of additional land reserve on the basis of proposing the adjustment of land use plan for 5 years ( 2016-2020 ) of national level adopted by the National Assembly, particularly as follows : 06 new protected areas with a total area of​​about 81,300 ha in the Northeast region ; 02 new protected areas with an area of​​about 35,000 hectares in the Northwest region; 07 new protected areas with an area of​​about 63,150 ha in the Red river Delta ; 07 new protected areas with an area of​​about 140,000 ha in the North Central region; 08 new protected areas with an area of​​about 113,000 ha in the South Central region; 03 new protected areas with an area of about 57,100 ha in the Central Highlands ; 04 protected areas with an area of about 43,600 ha in the Southeast and 09 protected areas with an area of​​about 33,500 ha in the Mekong river Delta .

k) The list of protected areas converted into the protected area system under the Law on biodiversity specified in the Appendix I of this Decision;

2. Vision by 2030:

- Identifying the regions with natural ecosystems and potential to provide important ecosystem services; continuing to protect the important natural ecosystems which have been degraded;

- Continuing to perfect the detailed planning and formulate dossier for submission to the competent authority to approve the establishment and put into operation 20 new protected areas with an area of about 128,000 ha, raising the total number of protected area to 219 with total area of about 3,067,000 ha evenly distributed across the country.

- Continuing to perfect the detailed planning and formulate dossier for submission to the competent authority to approve the establishment and put into operation 12 biodiversity conservation facilities, raising the total number of biodiversity conservation facilities to 38;

- Continuing to establish and put into operation 17 biodiversity corridors distributed in 08 regions on a national scale with the total estimated area of about 445,000 ha;

B. PREFERENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Approving in the principle 06 preferential programs and projects for the planning (for details specified in Appendix IV attached to this Decision);

III. IMPLEMENTATION SOLUTIONS

1. Perfecting the legal normative documents on management of protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors; criteria for gradation and classification of protected area under ecosystems; establishment of protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors; establishment of technical and economical norms and adjustment of biodiversity conservation planning;

Developing mechanisms and policies to encourage organizations and individuals, especially the local communities to participate in the planning of biodiversity conservation; assigning and decentralizing to local government and strengthening role of community in organizing the management and protection of protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors in the area. Developing policies to support investment for communities in the buffer zone around the protected areas and biodiversity corridors.

2. Effectively enhancing system of State management agencies on biodiversity towards clearly defining the functions of state management, particularly focusing on implementation of biodiversity conservation planning. Strengthening law enforcement, sanctions, and strictly handling violations of biodiversity conservation planning.

Developing the training plans to enhance professional level and management competence of the team working in biodiversity conservation from the central to local levels.

3. Surveying, studying and determining the criteria of ecological zoning on a national scale; identifying areas with the important, sensitive, vulnerable and degraded natural ecosystems to make plan for protection and restoration. Focusing on regions that have the potential to provide ecosystem services; surveying and evaluating the conformity and practical demand for land reserve for biodiversity conservation;

Developing and effectively implementing the programs and projects; surveying and scientifically studying as a basis for identification and proposal and specific protection measures for each class and type of protected area, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors. Enhancing the study and use of methods and tools and applying new models, especially the approach based on the ecosystems to adapt to climate change in management of protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors.

4. Strengthening information and propagation on the benefits and responsibilities of the community in planning implementation, especially the communities living in and around the protected areas and biodiversity corridors.

5. Strengthening international cooperation in order to attract financial and technical funding for scientific survey and research, personnel training; expanding the scientific exchange and cooperation with other countries, especially with bordering countries to exchange and learn about the management and protection of protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors;

6. Funding for implementation of programs and planning projects is specifically determined on the basis of decision of competent state agencies under the current provisions on State finance while encouraging and mobilizing the participation of the community and financial investment enterprises; developing mechanisms to diversify investment sources for biodiversity conservation planning.

Developing content and plan to integrate the master plan of biodiversity conservation of the country into the social economic development strategy, land use planning, forestry development planning and development planning of related sectors and the action plan to respond to climate change from central to local levels.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a) Assuming the prime responsibility for and coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities concerned to implement the planning;

b) Assuming the prime responsibility for and coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities concerned to develop legal normative documents, mechanisms and policies to effectively implement the planning;

c) Guiding localities to review, formulate and adjust the biodiversity conservation planning at provincial or centrally-affiliated city level in accordance with this planning;

d) Guiding and inspecting the implementation of planning on a national scale; summarizing the implementation of planning in 2020;

dd) Performing the assigned duties, programs and projects with priority;

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a) Coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the ministries and sectors concerned to implementing the planning contents in accordance with the management functions of the Ministry.

b) Assuming the prime responsibility and implementing the assigned duties, programs and projects with priority;

c) Integrating the implementation of planning contents in the strategy, planning, plan, program and project of forestry, agriculture and fishery.

3. Ministry of Planning and Investment

a) Arranging investment capital for ministries and sectors concerned to implement the planning contents;

b) Mobilizing international funding to implement the planning;

4. Ministry of Finance

On the basis of planning contents, the prioritized programs and projects approved by the competent levels, the Ministry of Finance shall balance and promptly arrange the state budget for implementation as prescribed by the Law on state budget;

5. Ministries and ministerial-level agencies

Within their duties and power, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the ministries and sectors concerned to develop and implement the programs, projects and duties in line with the planning objectives, contents and solutions.

6. People’s Committee of province and centrally-affiliated cities

a) Coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement the planning at locality;

b) Reviewing, formulating and adjusting the biodiversity conservation planning at provincial or centrally-affiliated city level in line with this planning;

c) Directing the relevant agencies to develop programs and subjects for implementation of planning; formulating and approving projects to establish protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors at locality as decentralized.

d) Managing the protected areas, biodiversity conservation facilities and biodiversity corridors as decentralized by the Government;

dd) Developing mechanism and policies to exploit the values of biodiversity for economic development and stabilization of local people’s lives;

e) Propagating, educating and raising people’s awareness and sense of law observance in biodiversity conservation;

g) Arranging local resources and properly and efficiently using the resources allocated by the central government for implementation of planning;

h) Inspecting the implementation of planning in the provincial area;

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the signing date

This planning supersedes the planning of marine protected area system for Vietnam by 2020 issued under the Decision No. 742/QD-TTg dated May 26, 2010 of the Prime Minister;

The planning of wetland protected areas specified in Appendix I of this Decision shall supersede the planning of inland water protected areas of the same location, geographical name that have been planned under the Decision No. 1479/QD-TTg dated October 13, 2008 of the Prime Minister approving the planning of inland water protected area system by 2020;

Article 3.Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and Chairmen of People s Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities shall implement this Decision. /.

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Minister

Hoang Trung Hai

* All appendices are not translated herein.