JOINT CIRCULAR No. 09/TTLB-LN-NV ON THE ORGANIZATION OF POLICE FORCES TO PARTICIPATE IN FORESTRY WORK

CIRCULAR

JOINT MINISTRY OF FORESTRY - MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION OF POLICE FORCES TO PARTICIPATE IN FORESTRY WORK

Forests and forest land hold a significant position in the national economy and national security, serving to protect the ecological environment and provide products for society. The Seventh National Party Congress Resolution has set the task of "developing forestry economies, planting forests to green bare hills and mountains, enhancing the efficiency of forest resource exploitation and utilization, protecting nature and the ecological environment."

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on Protection and Development of Forests which stipulates that "state agencies, economic organizations, social organizations, people's armed forces units, and all citizens have the obligation to protect and develop forests and protect the ecological environment."

Pursuant to Decision No. 264/CT dated July 22, 1992 of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers on policies to encourage investment in forest development.

Pursuant to Decision No. 327/CT dated September 15, 1992 of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers on certain guidelines and policies regarding the use of barren hills, mountains, forests, tidal flats, and water surfaces.

To organize police units to participate in managing, protecting, and developing forests, combining economic activities with security, the two Ministries of Forestry and Interior hereby jointly issue this Joint Circular as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for implementing programs related to planting, caring for, protecting, and encircling and regenerating forests, receiving state and international programs on afforestation and environmental protection.

2. The Ministry of Interior organizes forces to manage, protect, construct, and develop forests from planting to harvesting, processing, and protecting forests on lands assigned by competent authorities.

The annual afforestation plan of the Ministry of Interior shall be submitted by the State Planning Commission to the Government for approval.

3. The Ministry of Forestry shall coordinate with the Ministry of Interior to guide police units in participating in forestry work aimed at: managing, protecting, and developing forests, preventing and handling acts of deforestation, maintaining border and maritime security.

II. METHODS, ORGANIZATION OF FORCES AND POLICIES FOR POLICE UNITS PARTICIPATING IN FORESTRY WORK

1. Methods of participation in forestry work:

- Participating in concentrated and scattered afforestation programs, greening barren hills and mountains, tidal flats, and islands through projects and annual plans assigned by the state to the Ministry of Interior to develop and enrich forest capital, protect the ecological environment.

- Managing and protecting certain areas of forests and forest land while safeguarding national security, border, and maritime security.

- Harvesting and processing forest products within the managed area according to established procedures, regulations, and guidance documents issued by the state and the Ministry of Forestry.

2. Organization of forces for forestry work:

- At locations where police units are stationed, border guard posts can receive land for afforestation, receive forests for protection, nurturing, and enrichment, combined with border and maritime security duties.

- Schools and reformatory camps meeting conditions can receive land for protective and productive forest planting, combining agriculture and forestry, receiving contracts for nurturing, regeneration, and protection of forests to promote unit economic development, forest development, and create a scenic environment.

3. Investment support policy.

Police units participating in forestry work shall enjoy all policies and benefits:

- Receiving support and investment or loans under Decisions 327-CT and 264 of the Council of Ministers (now the Government), participating in projects and international aid programs on ecology and the environment, and state programs on forestry work.

- Receiving funding for research, experimental training, and the development of general forestry services and scientific and technological services oriented towards forestry and society.

4. Policy on land allocation and forest allocation.

- Provincial and municipal public security organs, border guard posts, and schools and reformatory camps meeting conditions can receive land and forest contracts as forest owners to organize forestry production.

- From the allocated management area, these units may allocate to subordinate units or households to operate comprehensive or phased forest business.

- Households of public security soldiers living in forests, border guard posts, and reformatory camps can receive land and forest contracts to operate like agricultural households.

- Organizations or households in the public security sector engaged in forestry business shall enjoy the full or partial proceeds from forest flora and fauna products based on their own capital investment and must comply with current tax regulations.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TWO MINISTRIES

1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Forestry:

- Implementing the function of industry management regarding the organization of forestry production and business in the public security force.

- Assisting the Ministry of Interior in selecting options for forestry project construction: guiding surveys, investigations, planning, and drafting projects on tree planting, afforestation, and regions under the Ministry of Interior's management according to Program 327-CT and other state programs on forestry work.

- Allocating annual forestry investment funds for the Ministry of Interior from the total state budget.

- Coordinating with localities to guide the allocation of land and forests to units under the Ministry of Interior's management.

- Coordinating with the Ministry of Interior to draft documents for submission to the Prime Minister for issuance or amendment of policies to motivate and encourage public security units to participate in forestry work and coordinating with relevant departments of the Ministry of Interior to inspect localities and units participating in forestry work within the public security force in the implementation of these policies.The Prime Minister shall issue, supplement, or amend policies to encourage and motivate public security units to participate in forestry work and coordinate with competent agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs to inspect localities and units within the public security force participating in forestry work regarding the implementation of these policies.

2. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior:

- Drafting plans to participate in forestry work, registering forestry projects throughout the public security force.

- Developing short-term, medium-term, and long-term forestry plans to participate in strategic programs and international aid on tree planting and afforestation, submitting them to the State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Forestry for overall coordination in the industry.

- Based on the area of forest and forest land, direct units shall carry out overall planning for the area of forest and forest land, establish projects, and prepare economic and technical justifications to submit to competent authorities at all levels for approval in accordance with the provisions of the State and the Ministry of Forestry.

- Be subject to state management and professional guidance in the forestry sector by the Ministry of Forestry, implement reporting systems and regular statistics as prescribed by the State and the Ministry of Forestry.

- Closely cooperate with forest rangers to inspect the implementation of laws on forest protection and development, as well as regimes, procedures, and regulations in the forestry sector of units under the management of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Designated responsibility:

To effectively implement the Circular of the Joint Ministries, the two Ministries agree to assign the following permanent responsibilities:

- The Ministry of Home Affairs assigns to the Economic Management Department - General Logistics Administration.

- The Ministry of Forestry assigns to the Industrial Forest Biology Department.

2. Organize implementation, provide guidance, monitor, and inspect the implementation.

Annually, the two Ministries shall coordinate to guide, inspect, and evaluate the results of the participation of units under the management of the Ministry of Home Affairs in forestry work.

This Circular takes effect from the date of signature. During the implementation process, forestry units - Home Affairs shall reflect difficulties, obstacles, and inconsistencies with reality to allow the two Ministries to make timely amendments and supplements.