Consolidated Document number 10/VBHN-BNNPTNT stipulates on investigation, inventory, and monitoring of forest changes.

CIRCULAR

Provisions on investigation, inventory, and monitoring of forest dynamics

Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding investigation, inventory, and monitoring of forest dynamics, effective from January 1, 2019, was amended and supplemented by;

Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding investigation, inventory, and monitoring of forest dynamics, effective from April 1, 2024;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Forestry Law dated November 15, 2017; Based on the proposal of the Director General of the Forest Administration;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular providing detailed regulations on the content of forest investigation and inventory; methods and procedures for forest investigation and inventory and monitoring of forest dynamics.1.

Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, households, individuals, and community residents involved in forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring of forest dynamics.

Article 2. Applicability

Article 3. Explanation of terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Inventory map is an intermediate product showing the boundaries, location, and current status of forests developed during the forest inventory process.

2. Group I forest owners include individual household, individual, and community forest owners.

3. Group II forest owners include organizational forest owners.

4. Reference emission pathway for forests is the standard path used to calculate carbon emissions reductions due to deforestation and forest degradation.

5. Reference pathway for forests is the standard path used to calculate carbon absorption increases from forest protection and development activities.

6. Original data survey system includes forms and tables recording actual data during the forest survey process.

Inventory plot is a part or all of a forest condition plot with an area of approximately 10 hectares under one management entity.

7.2 8. Forest condition plot is a relatively homogeneous unit of forest area concerning its origin, site conditions, species composition, and volume.

9. Standard survey plot is a defined forest area used to implement sampling methods representative of the survey area.

10. Broadleaf forest is a forest where broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

11. Coniferous forest is a forest where coniferous tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

12. Palm and coconut forest is a forest where palm species constitute more than 75% of the trees.

13. Mixed broadleaf and coniferous forest is a forest where broad-leaved and coniferous tree species are mixed in proportions ranging from 25% to 75% each.

Mixed forest of timber and bamboo is a forest where the canopy cover of timber and bamboo species is each between 25% and 75% of the total forest canopy cover.

14.3 16. Evergreen broadleaf forest is a forest where evergreen broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

15.4 (Repealed)

17. Deciduous broadleaf forest is a forest where deciduous broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

18. Semi-deciduous broadleaf forest is a forest where evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous broad-leaved tree species are mixed in proportions ranging from 25% to 75% each.

Bamboo and rattan forest is a forest where the canopy cover of bamboo and rattan species constitutes at least 75% of the total forest canopy cover.

19.5 Forest managers include forest owners as stipulated in Article 8 of the Forestry Law and People's Committees of communes managing forest areas not yet transferred or leased as stipulated in point c, Clause 3, Article 102 of the Forestry Law.

20.6 FOREST CLASSIFICATION

Chapter II. FOREST DIVISION

Article 4. Classification of forests according to origin

1. Natural forests, including:

a) Primeval forests;

b) Secondary forests, including: recovering secondary forests and secondary forests after harvesting.

2. Planted forests are classified by tree species and age class, including:

a) New planted forests on land without existing forests;

b) Replanted forests;

c) Naturally regenerated forests from harvested planted forests.

Article 5. Classification of forests according to site conditions

1. Mountainous forests, including: forests on hills and mountainous lands.

2. Rocky mountain forests, including: forests on rocky mountains or areas with exposed rocks having little or no surface soil.

3. Seasonally flooded forests, including:

a) Saltwater mangrove forests, including: coastal and river mouth forests regularly or periodically inundated by saline tides;

b) Acid-sulphate swamp forests, including: forested areas on acid-sulphate and brackish water swamps;

c) Freshwater seasonally flooded forests.

4. Sandy land forests, including: forests on sand dunes and beaches.

Article 6. Classification of forests according to tree species

1. Timber forests, mainly consisting of woody trees, including:

a) Broadleaf forests, including: evergreen broadleaf forests, deciduous broadleaf forests, and semi-deciduous broadleaf forests;

b) Coniferous forests;

c) Mixed broadleaf and coniferous forests.

2. Bamboo forests.

3.7 Mixed timber and bamboo forests.

4. Palm and coconut forests.

Article 7. Classification of natural forests according to standing volume

1. For timber forests, including:

a) Rich forests: standing volume greater than 200 m³/ha;

b) Medium forests: standing volume from greater than 100 to 200 m³/ha;

c) Poor forests: standing volume from greater than 50 to 100 m³/ha;

d) Very poor forests: standing volume from 10 to 50 m³/ha;

e) Forests without standing volume: standing volume less than 10 m³- Broadleaf deciduous timber forests: the number of regenerating target trees with a height of 1 meter or more is less than 700 trees/ha, unevenly distributed (for resprouting from a single mother plant with multiple sprouts, only the best sprout is counted) over the plot area; the total wood volume of all trees with a diameter at breast height of 8 centimeters or more is less than 40 m

2. For bamboo forests: forests are classified by tree species, diameter class, and density class; detailed classification is provided in Appendix I attached hereto.

Article 8. Areas without forests

1. Areas with regenerating vegetation currently in the enclosure and recovery phase to become forests.8 2. Areas where forest trees have been planted but have not yet met the criteria for becoming forests.

3. Other areas being used for forest protection and development.

FOREST INVESTIGATION

Chapter III. Section 1. SPECIALIZED FOREST INVESTIGATION

Article 9. Tasks, procedures, and organization of specialized forest investigation

Tasks of specialized forest investigation include: investigating forest area; investigating forest volume; investigating forest structure; investigating forest growth; investigating forest regeneration; investigating non-timber forest products; investigating site conditions; investigating scattered trees; investigating forest ecosystem diversity; investigating forest plant diversity; investigating forest vertebrate animal diversity; investigating forest insects and pests; investigating forest carbon stock.

1.9 2. Procedures for specialized forest investigation:

a) Preparation work, including: developing a project outline and budget estimate; preparing necessary materials and equipment; collecting and processing images, maps, and related documents; determining the required sample size based on the investigation content; designing the investigation sampling system on the map;

b) Field investigation, including: establishing field investigation samples; collecting data and specimens from the investigation samples; supplementing forest condition plots to build current forest maps and other specialized maps (if applicable); inspecting, supervising, and accepting the quality of field investigation;

c) Processing and internal calculation, including: editing and completing current forest maps and specialized maps (if applicable); selecting software, mathematical statistical methods, and processing and calculating forest area, forest quality indicators, site conditions, biodiversity; analyzing, synthesizing, writing reports on forest investigation results and specialized reports; inspecting and accepting the quality of specialized forest investigation results.

3. Organization of specialized forest investigation:

a) Specialized forest investigation organizations operate in accordance with legal regulations;

b) Authorities deciding on specialized forest investigation projects are responsible for approving and announcing investigation results.

b) The agency deciding forest investigation projects by topic shall be responsible for approving and announcing the results of such investigations.

Article 10. Survey of Forest Area

1. Contents of the survey of forest area:

a) Survey of the area of primary natural forests and secondary natural forests;

b) Survey of the area of mountain forests on soil, mountain forests on rock, forests on flooded land, and forests on sand;

c) Survey of the area of planted forests by species and age class;

d) Survey of the area of encircled regeneration zones, newly planted areas that have not yet become forests, and other areas currently being used for forest protection and development;

đ) Survey of the area of various forest conditions according to the forest owner and administrative units.

2. Methods of surveying forest area:

a) The survey of forest area is conducted by forest condition plots;

b) Interpretation of remote sensing images; construction of current status forest maps using specialized software;

c) Supplementary survey of the current status of forest condition plots outside the field;

d) Editing and completing current status forest maps and calculating the area of forest condition plots using specialized software.

3. Results of the survey and assessment of forest area:

a) Current status forest maps according to the requirements of the survey content ensuring compliance with legal regulations on measurement and mapping;10;

b) Original data system, summarized data according to Tables 04, 05, and Table 08 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

c) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest area.

Article 11. Survey of Forest Stock

1. Contents of the survey of forest stock:

a) Survey of timber stock of natural forests and planted forests;

b) Survey of bamboo and rattan stock of natural forests and planted forests;

c)11 Survey of timber stock and bamboo and rattan stock of mixed forests of timber and bamboo and rattan.

2. Methods of surveying forest stock:

a) Using standard plots randomly or systematically arranged, with an area of 1,000 m², for natural forest conditions larger than 2,000 ha;²b) Using typical standard plots with an area from 500 m² to 1,000 m² for natural forest conditions smaller than 2,000 ha; sampling area ratio for investigation from 0.01% to 0.1%;

c) Using typical standard plots arranged according to each forest condition (species, age class), with an area from 100 m² to 500 m² for planted forests; sampling area ratio for investigation from 0.01% to 0.05%;² d) Survey of timber trees and bamboo and rattan trees including: determining tree species, quality, measuring top height, diameter at breast height (DBH); in cases where it is necessary to calculate lost forest stock, measure DBH for felled trees still present on site, and measure stump diameter for trees only leaving stumps;²đ) Using rapid forest stock survey devices;.

e) Using pre-established yield tables for reference;² g) Using specialized software and mathematical statistical methods to calculate forest stock.² 3. Results of the survey of forest stock:

a) Original data system and summary tables of forest stock according to Tables 01, 02, 03, 06, 07, and Table 09 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

b) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest stock.

Article 12. Survey of Forest Structure

1. Contents of the survey of forest structure:

a) Average stand indicators, including: diameter at breast height (DBH), top height, cross-sectional area, stock;

b) Composition structure of the forest;

c) Density structure of forest trees;

d) Canopy layer structure of the forest;

đ) Forest canopy cover;

e) Distribution of trees by DBH;

g) Distribution of trees by height;

h) Correlation between height and DBH.

2. Methods of surveying forest structure:

a) Using typical standard plots with a minimum area of 2,000 m² to survey forest structure;

Measure and collect indicators, including: forest tree name, DBH, top height, height below branches, crown diameter; canopy cover; draw longitudinal and transverse profiles of the tree layer at a scale of 1/100;

c) Using mathematical methods and software to calculate average stand indicators as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of the survey of forest structure:

a) Original data system, summary tables of survey results of forest structure according to Tables 01, 10, and Table 29 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

b) Transverse and longitudinal profiles of spatial structure of the forest;² c) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest structure.

b)12 Measuring and collecting indices, including: name of forest trees, diameter at breast height (1.3 meters), tree height to top, tree height below branches, canopy diameter; shade density; cross-section and longitudinal plots of the timber layer at a scale of 1/100;

c) Using mathematical methods and software to calculate average forest compartment indices as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of forest structure investigation:

a) Original data system, summary tables of forest structure investigation results according to Tables 01, 10, and Table 29 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Cross-sectional and longitudinal plots regarding the spatial structure of the forest;

c) Report on the results of the forest structure investigation and assessment.

Article 13. Forest Growth Survey

1. Contents of the forest growth survey:

a) Annual continuous growth;

b) Periodic continuous growth;

c) Average periodic growth;

d) General average growth;

đ) Growth rate;

e) Survey of individual tree growth, including: diameter, height, trunk shape, and volume of trees;

g) Survey of forest compartment growth, including: density, average diameter, average height, total cross-sectional area, and forest compartment stock.

2. Methods for conducting the forest growth survey:

a) Methods for surveying individual tree growth, including: tree section analysis method, increment boring method, periodic measurement method over time, and using growth models for certain tree species;

b) Methods for surveying forest compartment growth, including: establishing fixed plots to measure and record growth indicators of forest compartments over the years; in the case of planted forests, growth surveys are conducted according to land levels;

c) Calculation methods for forest growth at points a, b, c, d, and đ of Clause 1 of this Article, as stipulated in Table 11 of Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Results of the forest growth survey:

a) Original data system and summary tables of the forest growth survey results according to Tables 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and Table 16 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Report on the results of the forest growth survey and assessment.

Article 14. Forest Regeneration Survey

1. Contents of the forest regeneration survey:

a) Names of regenerating tree species;

b) Height of regenerating trees;

c) Origin of regenerating trees;

d) Density of regenerating trees;

đ) Composition of regenerating trees;

e) Distribution level of regenerating trees;

g) Quality of regenerating trees;

h) Relationship between regenerating trees and the woody canopy layer;

i) Prospective regeneration tree ratio.

2. Methods for conducting the forest regeneration survey:

a) Using standard plots to count regenerating trees, arranged within standard plots for timber tree surveys, fixed plots, or within areas designated for regeneration forest cultivation;

b) Collecting information and measuring indicators as specified in points a, b, c, e, and g of Clause 1 of this Article;

c) Using mathematical statistics and software to calculate average height of regenerating trees, average density of regenerating trees, quality groups of regenerating trees, and other indicators as specified in points đ, h, and i of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of the forest regeneration survey:

a) Data system and summary tables of the forest regeneration survey results according to Tables 17 and 18 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Summary of prospective regenerating trees according to Table 19 of Appendix II attached hereto;

c) Report on the results of the forest regeneration survey and assessment.

Article 15. Non-Timber Forest Product Survey

1. Contents of the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Fiber products, including: bamboo, rattan, reed, rush, leaf, and fiber-bearing plant stems, and various grasses;

b) Plant-based food products, including: stem, shoot, root, tuber, leaf, flower, fruit, nut, spice, oilseed, and mushroom;

c) Medicinal and cosmetic products derived from plants;

d) Extracts, including: resin, oil resin, latex, dye, fat, and essential oils;

đ) Other non-timber forest products.

2. Methods for conducting the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Species composition survey: using typical survey lines or typical standard plots to identify all non-timber forest products appearing along the survey line or within the standard plot;

b) Area survey: using the method prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 10 of this Circular to survey the area of non-timber forest products in natural forests; compiling and stacking maps of planted non-timber forest products to supplement the area of planted non-timber forest products;

c) Stock survey: in cases where non-timber forest products are parts of timber trees, using the method prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 11 of this Circular; in cases where non-timber forest products originate from other plants, setting up standard plots to count all individuals of non-timber forest products, identifying the usable parts of each tree, determining the yield of each tree to determine annual stock and potential; in cases where non-timber forest products originate from animals, setting up survey lines combined with interviews of local people to determine the usable parts, annual yield to calculate stock.

3. Results of the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Original data system and summary tables of the non-timber forest product survey results according to Tables 03, 07, 20, 21, and Table 22 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Map of non-timber forest product distribution;

c) Report on the results of the non-timber forest product survey and assessment.

Article 16. Land Survey Investigation

1. Content of land survey investigation:

a) Level 1 land survey investigation;

b) Level 2 land survey investigation;

c) Level 3 land survey investigation;

d) Forest land survey investigation;

đ) The level of detail for each indicator of Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 land surveys and forest land surveys according to Table 23 in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

2. Methods of land survey investigation:

a) Using standard land survey investigation grids with an area from 100 to 200 square meters; describing land factors including: topography, terrain, climate, hydrology, surface cover;²;

b) Excavating, describing soil cross-sections, and analyzing soil physical and chemical indicators according to Table 23 and Table 24 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

c) Overlaying maps.

3. Results of land survey investigation:

a) Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 land survey maps in accordance with laws on measurement and mapping;13;

b) Original data system of land survey investigations, soil analysis tables;

c) Description of land survey maps.

Article 17. Individual Tree and Fish Survey

1. Content of individual tree and fish survey:

a) Surveying the shape of the tree trunk, including: standard shape and natural shape of the tree trunk;

b) Surveying fallen trees or parts of the tree trunk, including: diameter, length (or height) of the tree trunk and volume of the tree (with bark, without bark);

c) Surveying standing trees, including: diameter at breast height (1.3m), root collar diameter, crown spread, total height, volume of the tree (with bark, without bark) and quality of the tree;

d) Surveying felled stumps, including: diameter and height.

2. Methods of individual tree and fish survey:

a) Using specialized measuring tools for forest surveys to directly measure standing trees or parts of fallen trees and felled stumps;

b) Determining standard shape: dissecting the tree trunk to calculate the actual volume of the tree and comparing it with the volume of a cylinder with a diameter equal to the diameter at breast height (1.3m) on the tree trunk and the height of the cylinder equal to the length of the tree trunk;

c) Determining natural shape: dissecting the tree trunk to calculate the actual volume of the tree and comparing it with the volume of a cylinder with a diameter equal to the diameter at one-tenth of the distance from the base on the tree trunk and the height equal to the length of the tree trunk;

d) Calculating the volume of fallen tree parts: the formula for calculating the volume of fallen tree parts or round logs is calculated by multiplying the average cross-sectional area (x) by the length of the fallen tree part or round log;

đ) Indirectly calculating the volume of standing trees through the formula: V = G.H.F (where: V is the volume of the tree trunk; G is the cross-sectional area of the tree trunk; H is the height of the tree; F is the form factor) or using pre-established volume tables and pre-established volume calculation models to determine the volume of standing trees;

e) Measuring the canopy diameter through ground projections of the canopy or drawing horizontal cross-sections of the canopy according to its true shape and distribution within the forest compartment;

g) Evaluating the quality of standing trees through observations of their morphology and growth development to classify them into good, medium, and poor grades.

3. Results of individual tree and fish survey:

a) Measurement, collection data system, and summary tables of individual tree and fish survey results, calculations according to Table 25 and Table 26 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

b) Report on survey results and evaluation of individual trees and fish.

Article 18. Survey of Forest Ecosystem Biodiversity

1. Contents of the survey on forest ecosystem biodiversity:

a) Surveying the area of various forest vegetation types;

b) Surveying the basic characteristics of forest ecosystems, including groups of factors such as forest animals, forest plants, geography, topography, climate, hydrology, and human impact factors;

c) Surveying the structure of other ecosystems, including natural and artificial water surfaces, grasslands, shrubs, and other habitats.

2. Methods for surveying forest ecosystem biodiversity:

a) Using the current forest map as prescribed in point a, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular to determine the types of forest vegetation;

b) Using standard sampling plots with an area of 2,000 square meters² to survey the types of forest vegetation, describing the characteristics specified in points b and c, Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of the survey on forest ecosystem biodiversity:

a) A map of forest ecosystems showing the distribution boundaries of the generated ecological vegetation types according to the laws on measurement and maps;14;

b) A report detailing forest ecosystem biodiversity.

Article 19. Survey of Forest Plant Diversity

1. Contents of the survey on forest plant diversity:

a) Surveying the components of forest plants, including vascular and non-vascular plants;

b) Compiling a list of forest plant species;

c) Determining the geographical elements of forest plants;

d) Determining the life forms of forest plants;

đ) Determining the uses of forest plants;

e) Surveying the distribution of endangered, valuable, and rare forest plant species.

2. Methods for surveying forest plants:

a) Using typical transects passing through different elevations, landforms, and forest conditions; identifying all plant species present; recording life forms and uses of plants according to Table 27 in Appendix II of this Circular; determining the distribution of endangered, valuable, and rare forest plant species on maps or using GPS along the transect combined with interviews with local residents;

b) Collecting and describing forest plant specimens according to Table 28 in Appendix II of this Circular.

3. Results of the survey on forest plants:

a) A list of forest plants according to Table 29 in Appendix II of this Circular;

b) A list of endangered, valuable, and rare forest plant species;

c) A map of the distribution of endangered, valuable, and rare forest plants;

d) Forest plant specimen samples;

đ) A report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest plant diversity.

Article 20. Survey of Forest Vertebrate Animal Diversity

1. Contents of the survey on forest vertebrate animal diversity:

a) Surveying and compiling a list of mammals;

b) Surveying and compiling a list of birds;

c) Surveying and compiling a list of reptiles and amphibians;

d) Surveying and compiling a list of fish;

đ) Surveying populations, distributions, and compiling a list of endangered, valuable, and rare animal species.

2. Methods for surveying forest vertebrate animals:

a) Using representative transects and points for various habitats; observing directly, counting individuals and herds, herd structures for large mammals, range of activity for herds; recognizing calls and songs; recognizing characteristic signs; using camera traps; recording forest vertebrate animal surveys according to Table 30 in Appendix II of this Circular; collecting and describing specimens according to Table 31 in Appendix II of this Circular;

b) Surveying preserved specimens and signs in villages and combining with interviews with local residents.

3. Results of the survey on forest vertebrate animal diversity:

a) A list of forest animals according to Table 32 in Appendix II of this Circular;

b) A list of endangered, valuable, and rare forest animal species;

c) A map of the distribution of endangered, valuable, and rare forest animals;

d) Forest animal specimen samples and description forms;

đ) A report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest vertebrate animals.

Article 21. Survey of Forest Insects and Pests and Diseases

1. Contents of the survey of forest insects and pests and diseases:

a) Survey of forest insects, including: species composition, density, distribution;

b) Establish a list of forest insects;

c) Establish a list of endangered, precious, and rare forest insect species;

d) Survey and forecast forest pests and diseases;

đ) Collect specimens of forest insects and pests and diseases;

2. Methods for surveying forest insects and pests and diseases:

a) Use standard survey plots with an area of 2,500 square meters to investigate flying insects, set up systematic survey lines within the standard survey plot to investigate flying insects, establish standard plots of 1 square meter to investigate soil insects, select standard trees to investigate forest insects on trees or forest pests and diseases; record the survey indicators of forest insects according to Table 33 in Appendix II attached hereto; collect specimens and describe forest insects and pests and diseases according to Table 34 in Appendix II attached hereto;²; in the standard survey plot for forest investigation, establish systematic survey lines to investigate flying insects, set up standard plots of 1 square meter² to investigate soil-dwelling insects, select standard trees to investigate forest insects on trees or forest pests; record forest insect survey indices according to Table 33 in Appendix II attached hereto; collect specimen samples and describe forest insects and forest pests according to Table 34 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Using typical survey lines to collect data and specimen samples of forest pests.

b) Use typical survey lines to collect data and specimens of forest pests and diseases;

3. Results of the survey of forest insects and pests and diseases:

a) List of forest insects according to Table 35 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) List of forest pests and diseases;

c) List of endangered, precious, and rare forest insects;

d) Specimens of forest insects, pests, and diseases and description forms;

đ) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest insects;

e) Report on the results of the survey and forecast of forest pests and diseases.

Article 22. Survey of Forest Biomass and Carbon Stock

1. Contents of the survey of forest biomass and carbon stock:

a) Survey of living plant biomass, including: above-ground and below-ground parts of trees;

b) Survey of forest carbon stock, including: carbon in living biomass as specified in point a of this clause; carbon in dead wood, carbon in litter; carbon in soil.

2. Methods for surveying forest biomass and carbon stock:

a) Establish a system of standard plots as specified in points a and b of Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular to collect data for calculating biomass and converting carbon stock;

b) Collect survey samples, including: standing trees, regenerating trees, shrubs, fresh vegetation, vines, litter, underground tree parts to directly calculate carbon stock;

c) Take soil samples and analyze carbon stock in soil;

d) Calculate carbon stock directly from survey samples as specified in point b of this clause or indirectly convert from biomass as specified in point a of this clause.

3. Results of the survey of forest biomass and carbon stock: report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest biomass and carbon stock.

Section 2. CYCLICAL FOREST SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT

Article 23. Tasks, Procedures, and Organization of Cyclical Forest Survey and Assessment

1. Tasks of cyclical forest survey and assessment

According to management objectives and requirements, the specific tasks of cyclical forest survey are determined as follows:

a) Survey of forest area as specified in Clause 1, Article 10 of this Circular;

b) Survey of forest volume as specified in Clause 1, Article 11 of this Circular; survey of non-timber forest product volume as specified in Clause 1, Article 15 of this Circular; survey of carbon stock as specified in point b, Clause 1, Article 22 of this Circular;

c) Survey of forest structure as specified in Clause 1, Article 12 of this Circular;

d) Survey of forest growth as specified in Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular;

đ) Survey of forest regeneration as specified in Clause 1, Article 14 of this Circular;

e) Survey of shrub structure and fresh vegetation;

g) Survey of land classification as specified in point d, Clause 1, Article 16 of this Circular;

h) Survey of forest ecosystem diversity as specified in Clause 1, Article 18 of this Circular;

i) Survey of forest plant diversity as specified in Clause 1, Article 19 of this Circular;

k) Survey of forest vertebrate animal diversity as specified in Clause 1, Article 20 of this Circular;

l) Survey of forest insects and pests and diseases as specified in Clause 1, Article 21 of this Circular.

2. Procedures for cyclical forest survey and assessment:

a) Preparation work, including: drafting and planning cyclical forest survey and assessment; establishing and issuing technical measures for implementation; preparing necessary materials and equipment; collecting data from previous cyclical forest surveys; designing cluster plots and ecological positioning plots on maps; interpreting satellite images to create current forest status maps;

b) Field survey, including: setting up cluster plots and ecological positioning plots in the field; collecting data and specimens on cluster plots and ecological positioning plots; supplementary survey to build forest status maps; inspecting, supervising, and accepting the quality of field survey;

c) Processing and internal calculation, including: editing and completing current forest status maps; selecting software, mathematical statistical methods, and processing and calculating forest area, forest quality indicators, land classification, biodiversity; analyzing, synthesizing, writing reports on cyclical forest survey results; inspecting and accepting the quality of cyclical forest survey results;

d) Establishing and updating the cyclical forest survey and assessment database system.

3. Organization of cyclical forest survey and assessment:15 a) The Forest Protection Department16submits to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval of the policy, outline, and budget estimate for implementing cyclical forest survey and assessment nationwide;

b) Specialized agencies assigned to implement technical contents according to the method prescribed in Article 24 of this Circular;

c) The Forest Protection Department17 monitors the implementation process, accepts annual implementation results; completes files for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval after the end of the cyclical survey period;

d) The investigation cycle and the publication of investigation results in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 33 of the Forestry Law.

Article 24. Methods for periodic forest inventory and assessment

1. Periodic forest area surveys shall be conducted using the methods prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 10 of this Circular.

2. Forest quality surveys shall be carried out using a grid system:

a) Across the entire forested area and areas without established forests, a square grid network of 8 km x 8 km shall be set up, with one cluster of plots arranged at each grid intersection.

b) Within each cluster, five sampling plots in the shape of an "L" shall be established, with a distance of 150 meters between each plot; each plot shall have an area of 1000 square meters.²;

c) Every five years, data shall be collected from the clusters, including: forest stock indicators according to the methods stipulated in Point d and Point g of Clause 2 of Article 11 of this Circular; forest regeneration indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2 of Article 14 of this Circular; determination of non-timber forest product species and their stock according to the provisions of Point c of Clause 2 of Article 15 of this Circular; determination of species composition, measurement of height and canopy cover of shrubs and herbaceous vegetation; forest carbon stock survey according to the methods stipulated in Points b, c, and d of Clause 2 of Article 22 of this Circular.

3. Forest quality surveys shall be conducted using a national ecological positioning plot system:

a) Select 10% of the grid intersections of 8 km x 8 km representing different forest types across elevation zones, sub-ecoregions, and ecoregions to establish a national ecological positioning plot system with an area of 100 hectares per plot.

b) In each ecological positioning plot, three research plots of 1 hectare each shall be established.

c) Every five years, data shall be collected within the ecological positioning plots, including: forest stock indicators, forest regeneration indicators, non-timber forest products, shrubs, herbaceous vegetation, and forest carbon stock according to the provisions of Point c of Clause 2 of this Article; forest structure indicators according to the methods stipulated in Points b and c of Clause 2 of Article 12 of this Circular; forest growth indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2 of Article 13 of this Circular; site characteristics indicators according to the method stipulated in Point b of Clause 2 of Article 16 of this Circular; forest ecosystem diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2 of Article 18 of this Circular; use current forest maps as stipulated in Point a of Clause 3 of Article 10 of this Circular to determine forest vegetation types and describe basic characteristics of the forest ecosystem; forest plant diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2 of Article 19 of this Circular; forest wildlife diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2 of Article 20 of this Circular; use research plots to investigate forest insect and pest survey indicators according to the method stipulated in Point a of Clause 2 of Article 21 of this Circular.

d) Between five-year cycles, review and update information on changes in forest owners, forest area, and other changes due to external impacts within the national ecological positioning plots.

Chapter IV. FOREST INVENTORY

Article 25. Tasks and organization of forest inventory

1. Forest inventory tasks include: inventory according to status; inventory according to management authority; inventory according to purpose of use and establishment of forest management files.

2. Organization of forest inventory:

a)18 The Forest Protection Department shall submit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for issuance of directives on forest inventory in accordance with the law;

b) People's Committees at all levels organize the implementation of forest inventory at the local level;

c) Provincial People's Committees approve and announce the results of provincial forest inventory;

d) The Forest Protection Department19 compiles, submits to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and announcement of the national forest inventory results.

đ)20 The agency deciding the forest inventory project is responsible for approving and organizing its implementation in accordance with the law.

Article 26. Procedure for forest inventory21

1. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development guide the organization to implement forest inventory within their province.

2. Specialized agencies in forestry carry out technical contents, including:

a) Provincial Forest Protection Service or Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for areas without a Provincial Forest Protection Service superimpose current state maps of village forests, land allocation maps, and forest allocation maps onto satellite images to create maps for forest inventory purposes; specifically determine the location and boundaries of forest owners on maps for forest inventory purposes; hand over the results of forest surveys to District Forest Protection Services within seven days from the completion of the survey.

b) District Forest Protection Service or Provincial Forest Protection Service for areas without a District Forest Protection Service hand over the results as stipulated in point a of this clause to forest management authorities within seven days from receiving the survey results.

3. Forest management authorities check the current status of the forest at the time of inventory and fill in information according to Form Nos. 01 and 02 in Appendix III issued together with this Circular.

4. District Forest Protection Service or Provincial Forest Protection Service for areas without a District Forest Protection Service cooperate with forest management authorities and relevant agencies to perform the following tasks:

a) Inspect the field to adjust the position, boundary, and other information of the inventory plot if necessary;

b) Adjust attribute and boundary information of the inventory plot on digital maps when there are changes;

c) Edit and complete village-level and district-level inventory maps; establish forest management files in accordance with Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 31 of this Circular.

5. Commune People's Committees confirm village-level inventory maps and forest management files and send them to District Forest Protection Services or Provincial Forest Protection Services for areas without District Forest Protection Services. District People's Committees confirm district-level inventory maps and forest management files and send them to Provincial Forest Protection Services or Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development for areas without Provincial Forest Protection Services.

6. Provincial Forest Protection Services or Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development for areas without Provincial Forest Protection Services cooperate with relevant agencies to perform the following tasks:

a) Edit and complete provincial-level inventory maps;

b) Develop summary tables of inventory results by administrative level, according to Forms 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 16, and 17 in Appendix III issued together with this Circular;

c) Establish provincial-level forest management files in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 31 of this Circular.

d) Compile, advise Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to Provincial People's Committees for approval and announcement of provincial-level inventory results and send them to the Forest Protection Department.

7. The Forest Protection Department cooperates with relevant agencies to perform the following tasks:

a) Edit and complete national-level inventory maps;

b) Develop summary tables of national-level inventory results, according to Forms 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 16, and 17 in Appendix III issued together with this Circular;

c) Compile, submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and announcement of national-level inventory results.

Article 27. Inventory according to status

1. Inventory of forest area and volume:

a) Natural forests and planted forests.

b) Forests on soil mountains, forests on rocky mountains, flooded forests, forests on sand.

c) Timber forests, bamboo and rattan forests, mixed timber and bamboo forests, palm and coconut forests.

2. Inventory of areas without forests.

a) Areas with regenerating trees in the enclosure and recovery phase to become forests;

b) Areas where forest trees have been planted but have not yet met the criteria for becoming forests;

c) Other areas currently being used for forest protection and development.

Article 28. Inventory according to management authority

1. Inventory of forest volume and area of forest owners as stipulated in Article 8 of the Forestry Law.

2. Inventory of area and volume of forests managed by People's Committees at commune level.

Article 29. Inventory according to purpose of use

1. Inventory of special-purpose forests, including: national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, scenic protection areas, scientific research and experimental forests, national botanical gardens, and national seedling forests.

2. Inventory of protective forests, including: upstream protective forests, community water source protection forests, border protective forests, windbreak and sand control protective forests, and wave and coastal intrusion protective forests.

3. Inventory of production forests, including: natural forests and planted forests.

Article 30. Results of inventory

1.22 The map of inventory results using the VN-2000 National Coordinate System and Reference System at the following scales:

a) Commune, district, provincial levels and group II forest owners: Scale 1:5,000 for natural area sizes less than 3,000 hectares; scale 1:10,000 for natural area sizes from 3,000 hectares to 12,000 hectares; scale 1:25,000 for natural area sizes larger than 12,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares; scale 1:50,000 for natural area sizes larger than 100,000 hectares to 350,000 hectares; scale 1:100,000 for natural area sizes larger than 350,000 hectares.

b) Nationwide: Scale 1:1,000,000.

2. System of summary tables of forest inventory results by administrative level implemented in accordance with point b, Clause 7, Article 26 of this Circular.

Article 31. Forest management files23

1. Forest management files of forest owners:

a) Forest management files of group I forest owners are established according to Form No. 11 Appendix III attached to this Circular, wherein the land parcel location diagram is extracted from the commune-level forest inventory result map;

b) Forest management files of group II forest owners are established according to Form No. 12 Appendix III attached to this Circular.

2. Forest management files by administrative unit, including:

a) Forest management ledger: commune level, according to Form No. 13 Appendix III attached to this Circular; district level, according to Form No. 14 Appendix III attached to this Circular; provincial level, according to Form No. 15 Appendix III attached to this Circular;

b) System of forest inventory result maps at all levels, as provided for in Clause 1, Article 30 of this Circular;

c) System of forest inventory result tables, as provided for in point b, Clause 7, Article 26 of this Circular.

3.24 Management and storage of forest management files (in paper or digital form) as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article:

a) Forest management files of group I forest owners are managed and stored at the forest owner and the Forest Protection Station at the district level or the Forest Protection Department at the provincial level for those localities that do not establish Forest Protection Stations;

Forest management files of group II forest owners are managed and stored at the forest owner and the Forest Protection Department at the provincial level or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for those localities that do not establish Forest Protection Departments;

b) Forest management files at the commune level are managed and stored at the People's Committee at the commune level and the Forest Protection Station at the district level or the Forest Protection Department at the provincial level for those localities that do not establish Forest Protection Stations;

Forest management files at the district level are managed and stored at the Forest Protection Station at the district level and the Forest Protection Department at the provincial level or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for those localities that do not establish Forest Protection Departments;

Forest management files at the provincial level are managed and stored at the Forest Protection Department at the provincial level or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for those localities that do not establish Forest Protection Departments;

National data are managed and stored at the Forest Protection General Department.

Chapter V. MONITORING FOREST CHANGES

Article 32. Tasks and requirements for monitoring forest dynamics

1. Tasks for monitoring forest dynamics:

a) Monitoring changes in area according to the status of forests;

b) Monitoring changes in area according to forest owners;

c) Monitoring changes in area according to the purpose of forest use;

d) Monitoring changes in forest area according to causes.

2.25 Requirements for monitoring forest dynamics:

a) Using the results of forest inventory integrated into the central database for monitoring forest dynamics located at the Forest Protection Department (referred to as Central Data) as the original data to implement annual monitoring of forest dynamics. The data published in the previous year serves as the basis for implementing the monitoring of forest dynamics in the following year;

b) Using software for updating forest dynamics issued by the Forest Protection Department;

c) Using necessary measuring devices and tools, including computers, satellite positioning devices, tablets to delineate forest plots with changes.

Article 33. Procedures for Implementing Monitoring of Forest Dynamics

1. Collecting information on forest changes:

a) Within fifteen days from the date of change in forest area, Group II forest owners shall be responsible for reporting to the County Forest Protection Station, Group I forest owners shall be responsible for reporting to the local forest rangers about changes in the assigned or leased forest areas, local forest rangers report to the County Forest Protection Station on changes in forest areas managed by the People's Commune Committee and receiving, collecting, and verifying information on forest changes reported by Group I forest owners within their management area;26 b) The form for reporting information on changes in forest area is attached as Form 01 in Appendix IV to this Circular.

2. Time points for determining changes in forests according to the causes specified as follows:

a) After the completion acceptance record of afforestation results or after the end of the afforestation season, the results of encircling and regenerating into forests according to the causes at point a and point c Clause 1 Article 37 of this Circular;

b) Three years after the completion acceptance record of afforestation results or after the end of the first afforestation season for the cause at point b Clause 1 Article 37 of this Circular;

c) The time point of completing main harvesting of planted forests for the cause at point a Clause 2 Article 37 of this Circular;

d) The inspection and determination record of forest area damage by the competent authority for the causes specified at points b, c, and point d Clause 2 Article 37 of this Circular;

đ) The completion acceptance record of utilizing wood and forest products by the competent authority for the cause specified at point đ Clause 2 Article 37 of this Circular;

e) Documents or records established by the competent authority for the causes specified at point d Clause 1, point e Clause 2 Article 37 of this Circular.

3. Updating forest dynamics:

a) Within thirty days from the date of receipt of the report on forest changes from the forest owner or

local forest ranger, the County Forest Protection Station shall check the forest dynamics file; verify on-site; update the dynamics into the software for updating forest dynamics and synchronize the updated results to the central data;27 b) The Provincial Forest Protection Branch shall inspect and evaluate the completeness of documents, data, databases, and forest dynamics update results reported by the County Forest Protection Station; compile the results of monitoring forest dynamics and non-forest areas throughout the province;

The Forest Protection Department compiles the results of monitoring forest dynamics; builds a national database for monitoring forest dynamics;

c)28 d) The content of collecting and updating information on forest changes is stipulated in Articles 34, 35, 36, and Article 37 of this Circular.

4. Approving and announcing the results of monitoring forest dynamics

The approval dossier includes: Application for approving the results of monitoring forest dynamics; summary tables according to Forms 02, 03, 04, 05, and 06 in Appendix IV issued together with this Circular; evaluation report on the situation of forest dynamics, analysis of reasons for increasing or decreasing forest areas, non-forest areas during the period compared to the same period of the previous year; forest dynamics monitoring database, including current forest maps (in digital or paper format) and map attribute information (in digital format);

a)29 b) The County Forest Protection Station establishes the approval dossier in accordance with point a Clause 4 of this Article, submits to the County People's Committee for decision to announce the current forest status, reports to the Provincial Forest Protection Branch before January 31 of the following year;

c) The Provincial Forest Protection Branch establishes the approval dossier in accordance with point a Clause 4 of this Article, reports to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for submission to the Provincial People's Committee for decision to announce the current forest status, reports to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before February 28 of the following year;

The Forest Protection Department establishes the approval dossier in accordance with point a Clause 4 of this Article, submits to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for decision to announce the national current forest status before March 31 of the following year.

d)30 The Forest Protection Department shall prepare a file to approve the results in accordance with point a, Clause 4 of this Article, and submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for decision to announce the national forest status before March 31 of the following year.

Article 34. Monitoring the area changes according to forest status

1. Monitoring the area changes of forests:

a) Natural forests and planted forests;

b) Forests on mountain soil, forests on rocky mountains, flooded forests, forests on sand;

c) Timber forests, bamboo forests, mixed timber and bamboo forests, palm and coconut forests.

2. Monitoring the area changes of land not yet covered by forests

a)31 The area with regenerating trees currently in the enclosure and recovery phase to become forests;

b)32 The area where forest trees have been planted but have not yet met the criteria for becoming forests;

c) Other areas being used for forest protection and development.

Article 35. Monitoring the area changes according to forest management subjects33

1. Monitoring the area changes of forests of forest owners as stipulated in Article 8 of the Forestry Law.

2. Monitoring the area changes of forests managed by the People's Committee at the commune level.

Article 36. Monitoring the area changes according to forest use purposes

1. Monitoring special-purpose forests, including: national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, scenic protection areas, scientific research and experimental forests, national botanical gardens, national seedling forests.

2. Monitoring protective forests, including: headwater protective forests, community water source protection forests, border protective forests, windbreak forests, sandstorm prevention forests, wave and coastal intrusion prevention forests.

3. Monitoring production forests.

Article 37. Monitoring the area changes of forests according to causes

1. Increase in forest area:

a) Planting forests;

b) Planted forests meeting the criteria to become forests;

c) Enclosed regeneration meeting the criteria to become forests;

d) Other reasons.

2. Decrease in forest area:

a) Logging forests;

b) Illegal logging;

c) Forest fires;

d) Illegal deforestation;34;

đ) Changing the purpose of forest use to other purposes;

e) Other reasons (forest pests and diseases, tornadoes, droughts, floods, landslides, snowstorms...).

Article 38. Results of monitoring forest changes35

1. Maps of forest change results at the scale specified in Clause 1 of Article 30 of this Circular.

2. Summary tables of forest change monitoring and non-forest area of administrative levels and Group II forest owners implemented according to Tables 02, 03, 04, 05, and 06 in Appendix IV issued together with this Circular.

3. Management and storage of forest change monitoring results:

a) Data of forest change monitoring results (in paper or digital form) as specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article shall be managed and stored annually;

b) Paper data of the commune level shall be managed and stored at the People's Committee of the commune and the Forest Protection Division of the district-level People's Committee or the Forest Protection Sub-department of the provincial-level People's Committee for localities without a Forest Protection Division;

Paper data of the district level shall be managed and stored at the Forest Protection Division of the district-level People's Committee and the Forest Protection Sub-department of the provincial-level People's Committee or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for localities without a Forest Protection Sub-department;

Paper data of the provincial level shall be managed and stored at the Forest Protection Sub-department of the provincial-level People's Committee or the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for localities without a Forest Protection Sub-department;

National-level paper data shall be managed and stored at the Forest Protection Department;

c) Digital data shall be integrated into central databases and managed and stored at the district, provincial, and Forest Protection Department levels.

Chapter VI. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION36

Article 39. Responsibilities of Forest Management Authorities37

Conduct forest inventory, monitor forest dynamics, and coordinate with specialized agencies during implementation.

Article 40. Responsibilities of Agencies

1. Forest Protection Department38:

a) Develop and implement national forest inventory and survey projects and special topic investigation projects;

b) Guide and inspect localities in conducting forest surveys and inventories, monitoring forest dynamics; compile results of forest surveys, inventories, and monitoring, and areas without forests nationwide.

2. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Develop and implement provincial-level forest survey and inventory projects;

b) Implement monitoring of forest dynamics, submit to the Provincial People's Committee for annual publication of forest status within the province, and report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Guide and inspect local forest surveys, inventories, and monitoring of forest dynamics; compile results of forest surveys, inventories, and monitoring, and areas without forests at the provincial level.

3. Provincial Forest Protection Service:

a) Organize the implementation and provide professional guidance on forest inventories and monitoring for County Forest Protection Services and forest owners;

b) Directly perform tasks stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article if no County Forest Protection Service is established in the area;

c) Manage and store provincial-level forest files and databases.

4. County Forest Protection Service:

a) Guide and inspect the implementation of forest inventories and monitoring within the county;

b) Compile results of forest inventories and monitoring, report to the Provincial Forest Protection Service and the County People's Committee;

c) Manage and store county-level forest files and databases.

Article 41. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2019.

2. The following documents shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect:

a) Circular No. 25/2009/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 5, 2009 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on guiding the implementation of forest statistics, inventories, and management file establishment;

b) Circular No. 26/2017/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 15, 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on monitoring forest dynamics and land planning for forest development.

3. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance and research on amendments and supplements.

1 Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring has been promulgated based on the following grounds:

"On the basis of Decree No. 15/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government detailing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to the Forestry Law dated November 15, 2017;

On the basis of Decree No. 156/2018/NĐ-CP dated November 16, 2018 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Forestry Law; Decree No. 83/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 15, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 156/2018/NĐ-CP;"

At the proposal of the Director of the Forest Protection Department;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby issues this Circular amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring."

2 This Clause has been amended and supplemented according to point a, Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring, which takes effect from March 1, 2024.

3 This Clause has been amended and supplemented according to point b, Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring, which takes effect from March 1, 2024.

4 This Clause has been abolished according to Clause 3, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring, which takes effect from March 1, 2024.

5 This Clause has been amended and supplemented according to point c, Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest investigation, inventory, and monitoring, which takes effect from March 1, 2024.

6 This clause was added pursuant to point d, Clause 1, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

7 This clause was amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

8 The term "wood" was abolished pursuant to point a, Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

9 This clause was amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 3, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

10 The phrase "law on maps" was replaced with the phrase "law on surveying and mapping" pursuant to point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

11 This point was amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 4, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

12 This point was amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 5, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

13 The phrase "law on maps" was replaced with the phrase "law on surveying and mapping" pursuant to point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

14 The phrase "law on maps" was replaced with the phrase "law on surveying and mapping" pursuant to point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

15 The phrase "Forest Protection Department" was replaced with the phrase "Forest Protection Service" pursuant to point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

16 The term "investment" was abolished pursuant to point b, Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

17 The phrase "Forest Protection Department" was replaced with the phrase "Forest Protection Service" pursuant to point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

18 This point was amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 6, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

19 The phrase "Forest Protection Department" was replaced with the phrase "Forest Protection Service" pursuant to point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

20 This point was added pursuant to Clause 6, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

21 This provision is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 7, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

22 This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 8, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

23 The name of this provision is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point a, Clause 9, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

24 This clause is added pursuant to Point b, Clause 9, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

25 This clause is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 10, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

26 The term "cadre" is abolished pursuant to Point c, Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

27 The term "cadre" is abolished pursuant to Point c, Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

28 This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point a, Clause 11, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

29 This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 11, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

30 This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Point b, Clause 11, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

31 This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 12, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

32 This point is amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 12, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

33 The term "forest owner" is replaced with "forest manager" pursuant to Point c, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

34 The term "encroachment on forest land" is abolished pursuant to Point d, Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

35 This provision has been amended and supplemented pursuant to Clause 13, Article 1 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

36 Article 3 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024, provides as follows:

“Article 3. Implementation Provisions

1. This circular shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

2. Localities shall allocate sufficient resources to implement annual forest monitoring in accordance with Article 102 of the Forestry Law.

3. Programs and projects applying contents, procedures, and methods of forest inventory, census, and monitoring approved before this circular takes effect shall continue to be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on forest inventory, census, and monitoring.

4. In the course of implementing this circular, if there are any difficulties, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall promptly report them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance and research on amendments and supplements./.”

37 The term "forest owner" is replaced with "forest manager" pursuant to Point c, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement some provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on surveying, inventory, and monitoring forest changes, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.

38 The phrase "Forest Protection Department" was replaced with the phrase "Forest Protection Service" pursuant to point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 16/2023/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 15, 2023, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend and supplement certain provisions of Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 16, 2018, on forest inventory, census, and monitoring, which shall take effect from March 1, 2024.