Decision No. 11/2002/QĐ-TTg On upgrading the U Minh Thượng Nature Reserve in Kiên Giang Province to a National Park

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the reclassification of the U Minh Thượng Nature Reserve in Kiên Giang Province to a National Park

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated September 30, 1992.

Pursuant to the Law on Forest Protection and Development dated August 12, 1991.

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Circular No. 4022/BNN-KL dated December 24, 2001) and the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province (Circular No. 559/CV-UB dated December 4, 2001).

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the reclassification of the U Minh Thượng Nature Reserve, located in An Minh and Vinh Thuận districts of Kiên Giang Province, to a National Park within the system of special-use forests in Vietnam.

The name of the national park is: U Minh Thượng National Park.

Article 2. The location, geographic coordinates, and area of U Minh Thượng National Park:

1. Geographic location:

U Minh Thuong National Park includes the land areas of An Minh Bac Commune in An Minh District and Minh Thuan Commune in Vinh Thuong District, Kiên Giang Province.

Geographic Coordinates:

From 09⁰31' to 09⁰39' north latitude.

From 105⁰03' to 105⁰07' east longitude.

3. Scale of area and functional zones:

Total area: 8,053 hectares

Including:

- Strict protection zone: 7,838 hectares

- Ecological restoration and historical relic conservation zone: 200 hectares

- Administrative and service zone: 15 hectares

The buffer zone of U Minh Thuong National Park has an area of 13.069 hectares, surrounding the national park area, situated between the inner and outer embankments.

Article 3. Objectives and tasks of U Minh Thuong National Park:

1. To conserve a national standard model of the Tram swamp forest ecosystem on peat soil. This is the only place in Vietnam with this ecosystem, and it is also an important and valuable wetland in the lower Mekong Delta and Southeast Asia.

2. To conserve the biodiversity of the flooded forest ecosystem, particularly eight globally significant bird species and other rare and unique wildlife species.

3. To contribute to the conservation and enhancement of the national-level historical relic of the U Minh Thuong Revolutionary Base Area during the anti-French and anti-American resistance wars.

4. To contribute to maintaining ecological balance and increasing forest coverage, ensuring environmental security and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, while promoting the values of the Tram swamp forest ecosystem for scientific research, ecotourism, and tourism.

Article 4. Assigns the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province to directly manage U Minh Thuong National Park.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province shall be responsible for:

- Directing the preparation, review, and approval of the investment project for the construction and development of U Minh Thuong National Park and the buffer zone of U Minh Thuong National Park according to current regulations.

- Directing the development of the ecotourism development project within U Minh Thuong National Park in accordance with Decision No. 08/2001/QĐ-TTg dated January 11, 2001 of the Prime Minister on the management regulations for special-use forests, protective forests, and natural production forests, submitting it to the competent authority for approval and implementation.

Annually, from the provincial budget investment plan for Kiên Giang Province, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall clearly allocate funds for projects within U Minh Thuong National Park to ensure that their implementation adheres to the approved project content and schedule.

Article 5. On the organization and staffing of U Minh Thuong National Park:

Assigns the Chairman of the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province to decide on the organization and staffing of U Minh Thuong National Park based on the provisions of the Management Regulations for Special-Use Forests issued together with Decision No. 08/2001/QĐ-TTg dated January 11, 2001 of the Prime Minister and the consensus opinion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government Organizational Cadre Department.

Article 6. THIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and government-affiliated agencies, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Kiên Giang Province are responsible for implementing this Decision./.