Directive 05/CT-TTg 2022 management and protection of forests, addressing illegal deforestation

DIRECTIVE

On enhancing the management and protection of forests, addressing illegal deforestation and encroachment on forest land^[1]

Over the recent years, ministries and sectors have actively directed and supported localities in enhancing the protection and development of forests and stabilizing the people’s livelihood. However, the situation of violation of regulations on forest protection in a number of provinces has seen complicated practices with many large-scale illegal deforestation cases occurring and causing damage to forest resources negatively affecting the environment, and causing public concern.

In order to effectively prevent illegal deforestation and encroachment on forest land, and at the same time contribute to the realization of international commitments, particularly commitments made at the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the Prime Minister requests the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Public Security, and provincial-level People’s Committees to urgently direct and organize the implementation of the following contents:

1. Chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

a/ Strictly manage existing forest and forest land areas in accordance with master plans approved by competent authorities; fully incorporate information on forests and forest land areas in provincial master plans for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward  2050; closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in formulating and completing the National Forestry Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, for strict management and effective protection of special-use forests, protection forests and production forests; strictly control the forest use repurposing, and prevent the taking of advantage of the forest use repurposing to illegally deforest.

b/ Direct, inspect, correct wrongdoings and strictly handle cases of leveling hills and mountains for division and sale of forest land plots for residential house building, and construction on forest land areas in contravention of law.

c/ Expeditiously carry out on-spot investigation, verify, investigate and clarify illegal deforestation cases that have been inspected and detected by functional bodies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities for inspection and strict handling in accordance with law.

d/ Speed up the investigation and clarification of deforesting parties for strict handling under regulations of cases of deforestation and encroachment on forest land occurring over the recent years for general deterrence, education and prevention.

dd/ Examine responsibility of forest owners and related organizations and individuals for letting illegal deforestation and exploitation of forests occur in areas under their management and failure to take measures to prevent or promptly handle violations.

e/ Direct functional bodies, grassroots authorities and forest owners to take measures to enhance the forest protection and management; direct the forest ranger force in reviewing, inspecting and evaluating the total natural forest area in their localities, particularly those managed by special-use and protection forest management boards; promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle acts of damaging forests.

g/ Synchronously and drastically implement solutions for forest management, protection and development under Directive No. 13-CT/TW of January 12, 2017, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, on enhancing the Party’s leadership over the forest management, protection and development; the Government’s Resolution No. 71/NQ-CP of August 8, 2017, promulgating the Government’s action plan to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW of January 12, 2017, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, focusing on acceleration of investigation and settlement of big cases of forest deforestation and forest land encroachment reported by press agencies in recent years.

h/ Intensify the forest allocation and lease in association with land allocation and lease, particularly in forest areas managed by commune-level People’s Committees, in accordance with current laws; resolutely recover forests from forest owners that have failed to fulfill their forest protection obligations, leading to forest loss.

i/ Additionally provide resources and raise the capacity of the forest ranger force to meet requirements of their tasks and in conformity with practical local conditions, focusing on the arrangement of sufficient resources for commune-level forest rangers and mobile forest rangers to protect forests and fight forest fires.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

a/ Continue advising and submitting to competent authorities for promulgation mechanisms and policies to improve the efficiency of the forest management, protection and development; improving living standards and increasing income for forestation workers; mobilize lawful resources for investment in the development of forestry production and sale of agricultural and forest products in provinces in order to reduce pressure on forests.

b/ Coordinate with central and local functional bodies in enhancing the inspection and handling of large-scale and complicated violations of the law on forest management and protection.

c/ Promote the digital transformation; apply modern and high technologies in the forest management and protection, and in early detection of forest loss and forest fires.

3. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall urgently review and improve regulations in order to strictly manage land, enhance inspection, prevention and strict handling of cases of improper land use and unlawful forest land use repurposing.

4. The Ministry of Public Security shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and functional bodies in, investigating and strictly handling cases of illegal deforestation and encroachment on forest land, especially those occurring in the Central Highlands provinces.

b/ Direct and support localities in investigating and strictly handling criminal cases in the forestry sector, particularly acts of forest destruction.

The Prime Minister requests the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development; Natural Resources and Environment; and Public Security; and provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies and organizations to strictly and effectively implement this Directive.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH