Decision No. 940/QD-TTg dated July 19, 2012 of the Prime Minister approving the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam by 2020

DECISION

APPROVING THE URGENT ACTION PLAN FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM BY 2020

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

Pursuant to the Law on Forest Protection and Development dated December 3, 2004;

Pursuant to the Law on Land dated November 26, 2003;

Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 23/2006/ND-CP dated March 3, 2006, on the implementation of the Law on Forest Protection and Development;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister s Decision No. 733/QD-TTg dated May 16, 2006, approving the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam by 2010;

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

DECIDES:

Article 1.Approving the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam by 2020 with the following primary contents:

1. Title: Urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam by 2020.

2. Targets:

a/ Overall Targets:

Conserving and sustainably developing the existing population of wild and domestic elephants in Vietnam, concurrently to sustainably conserving the biotopes in which elephants live.

b/ Specific targets:

- Preventing the decline in quantity of elephants, ensuring that at least 3 areas inhabited by elephants are conserved and developed in the 21^stcentury.

- Minimizing conflicts between elephants and humans in areas where elephants live.

- Conserving and developing the population of domestic elephants in Dak Lak province.

- Enhancing the propagation of the protection of biotopes in which elephants live.

- Enhancing the cooperation in inter-border conservation.

3. Elephant conservation

a/ Keeping implementing the project to conserve the long-term habitats of elephants in Dak Lak, Dong Nai and Nghe An provinces, of which the size of herd, habitat and area of living satisfy requirements for sustainable elephant conservation.

b/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall establish a Steering Committee for the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam by 2020; and formulate an overall scheme for conserving elephants by 2020.

c/ Conserving small populations of elephants, facilitating the life of elephants. Considering to move elephants to other places when all efforts fail. Minimizing the possibility of conflicts in areas with elephants, making detailed plans to implement specific solutions for each area.

d/ Making management dossiers and attaching electronic chips to domestic elephants to tightly supervise the elephant protection; studying the reproduction of domestic elephants in order to conserve and develop the current domestic elephant number; building and develop an Elephant conservation center in Dak Lak province as a basis for the research and conservation of domestic elephants.

e/ Deploying the campaign for raising awareness about elephant conservation for communities in areas with elephants.

f/ Improving the efficiency of law enforcement, especially in bordering provinces; effectively preventing the hunt and trade of elephants and their products through the border.

4. Budget

The budget for implementing the action plan for elephant conservation include:

- State budget allocated in the forest protection and development plan during 2011-2020;

- Sponsorships from domestic and overseas organizations and individuals;

- Other legal funding sources.

5. Organization of implementation

a/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be in charge and cooperate with relevant Ministries, sectors and localities in elaborating and submitting a plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam during 2011 – 2022 to Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

b/ The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance must balance and ensure budget for the implementation of this Decision.

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3.The Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development; Planning and Investment; Finance; and Natural Resources and Environment, and heads of relevant agencies, and the Presidents of People’s Committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces are constructions implementing this Decision.-