Decision No. 111/2001/QD-BNN on the establishment of the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Steering Committee and the issuance of the Operation Regulation of the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Steering Committee.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the establishment of the Fire Prevention and Control Forest Board and the issuance of

Regulations on the operation of the Fire Prevention and Control Forest Board

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 

Pursuant to the Law on Protection and Development of Forests;

Pursuant to the Law on Fire Prevention and Control;

Pursuant to Decree No. 73/CP dated November 1, 1995 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Pursuant to Decree No. 22/CP dated March 9, 1995 of the Government promulgating regulations on fire prevention and control in forests and Directive No. 19/1998/CT-TTg dated April 17, 1998 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures for forest fire prevention and control;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Forest Protection Department and the Head of the Cadre and Civil Servant Affairs Department;

Pursuant to …; 

Article 1. Establish the Fire Prevention and Control Forest Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hereinafter referred to as the Board consisting of the following officials:

1- The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for forestry affairs shall serve as Chairman of the Board.

2- The Director of the Forest Protection Department shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board.

3- The Heads of the following units shall serve as members of the Board:

- Planning and Planning Department,

- Forestry Development Department,

- Resettlement and New Economic Zone Department,

- Agricultural Extension Department,

- Water Resources Management and Irrigation Works Department,

- Forest Protection Technical Center No. 1 and No. 2.

Article 2. The Board shall be responsible for performing tasks related to forest fire prevention and control as prescribed in the Board's operational regulations issued together with this Decision.

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature and shall replace Decision No. 517/QĐ-BNN-TCCB dated April 29, 1996 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 4. The Head of the Ministry’s Office, the Head of the Cadre and Civil Servant Affairs Department, the Heads of relevant Departments and Units, and the members listed in Article 1 of this Decision shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

REGULATION

Activities of the Fire Prevention and Control Forest Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

(Issued together with Decision No. 111/2001/QĐ-BNN-TCCB dated November 23, 2001 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1The Fire Prevention and Control Forest Board established by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development according to Article 1 of Decision No. 111/2001/QĐ-BNN dated November 23, 2001, operates on a part-time basis. The Board is responsible for directing, inspecting, and urging units within the sector, forest owners, and related organizations and individuals nationwide to implement forest fire prevention and control work in accordance with current state regulations.

Article 2The Standing Committee of the Board consists of: the Vice-Chairman and some staff assisting in work. The Standing Committee is located at the Forest Protection Department and uses the department's seal and account for transactions related to the Board's activities.

Chapter 2.

DUTIES OF THE FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL FOREST BOARD AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE BOARD

Article 3The Board has the following duties:

1) Direct, inspect, and urge localities, units within the sector, forest owners, and related organizations and individuals to establish and implement plans, projects, and programs for forest fire prevention and control.

2) Organize and direct forest fire prevention and control work, disseminate experiences, and apply scientific, technical, and technological advancements in forest fire prevention and control to localities and related organizations and individuals nationwide.

3) Issue orders to mobilize forces and equipment to promptly address emergency situations when forest fires occur.

4) Direct units and forest owners to organize the restoration of damage caused by forest fires.

5) Seek and secure international organizations' assistance in forest fire prevention and control work to minimize losses caused by forest fires in environmental, economic, and social fields.

6) Identify, review, and propose to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and competent state agencies to reward organizations and individuals who have achieved results in forest fire prevention and control work.

Article 4Assignment of responsibilities within the Board:

1) The Chairman of the Board is responsible for overall management and is accountable to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for national forest fire prevention and control work; chairs meetings, directs, and manages the activities of Board members; directs and manages the implementation of Board decisions; inspects and directs provinces nationwide regarding forest fire prevention and control work.

2) The Vice-Chairman of the Board assists the Chairman and implements Board tasks as assigned by the Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman represents the Chairman in managing Board activities. Directly oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in coastal South Central and Central Highlands provinces from Da Nang to Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.

3) The Director of the Forestry Development Department oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, and Tuyen Quang provinces.

4) The Director of the Water Resources Management and Irrigation Works Department oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, and Ha Tay, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, and Nam Dinh provinces.

5) The Director of the Agricultural Extension Department oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in the central region including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hanoi City.

6) The Director of the Resettlement and New Economic Zone Department oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in Southeastern provinces including Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

7) The Director of the Planning and Planning Department oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in Southern provinces including Kien Giang, An Giang, Dong Thap, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Long An.

8) The Director of Forest Protection Technical Center No. 1 oversees and directs forest fire prevention and control work in Northeastern provinces including Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Lang Son, Hai Duong, and Hai Phong.

9) Director of Forest Protection Technology Center No. 2: monitor and direct forest fire prevention and firefighting work in provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue. Members of the Steering Committee, according to their respective functions and tasks, participate in building plans and directing the implementation of forest fire prevention and firefighting work nationwide and are responsible before the Chairman for forest fire prevention and firefighting work in their assigned fields. In necessary cases, the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Deputy Chairmen, and the Standing Office of the Steering Committee may inspect, urge, and work with localities nationwide regarding forest fire prevention and firefighting work.

Article 5.

1. Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee.

2. Head of the Forest Protection Management Department, Forest Protection General Department.

3. Fire prevention and firefighting specialist under the Forest Protection Management Department, Forest Protection General Department.

4. Planning and Planning Division specialist, Accounting and Finance Division specialist, who are reinforced to assist the Standing Office of the Steering Committee when required.

Article 6. The Standing Office of the Forest Fire Prevention and Firefighting Steering Committee has the following responsibilities:

1) Monitor the situation of forest fire prevention and firefighting work throughout the country.

2) Advise the Chairman of the Forest Fire Prevention and Firefighting Steering Committee on mobilizing forces belonging to Departments, Bureaus, Institutes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct, inspect, and urge localities to establish and implement projects, plans, and programs for forest fire prevention and firefighting.

3) Coordinate with functional agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, and localities to mobilize human resources, means of transportation, etc., to organize timely rescue operations for situations exceeding the capacity of localities where forest fires are occurring.

4) Direct localities to organize the restoration of consequences caused by forest fires.

5) Coordinate with relevant domestic sectors and international organizations to organize the implementation of forest fire prevention and firefighting forecasting work.

6) Organize the summary of forest fire prevention and firefighting work; apply and transfer scientific and technological advances in forest fire prevention and firefighting to localities, forestry farms, forest owners in communities.

7) Organize training courses and propaganda and education on forest fire prevention and firefighting.

8) Develop the annual budget plan of the Steering Committee for approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

9) Compile and aggregate data on forest fire prevention and firefighting situations in localities to report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development periodically and urgently.

10) Participate in inspection teams of the Steering Committee at localities.

Chapter 3:

WORKING PRINCIPLES, MEETING REGIME AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

, Clause 1, Clause 2 Article 7a of this Regulation.. The Steering Committee operates based on the principle of democratic centralism and part-time members, individual responsibility. Proposals on forest fire prevention and firefighting work must be discussed and agreed upon by the majority of the Steering Committee, except in urgent cases, the Chairman of the Steering Committee issues orders to implement forest fire prevention and firefighting measures to respond to severe forest fire emergencies.

Article 8. The Steering Committee meets regularly every six months to review work and discuss measures to implement the program of the Steering Committee.

During peak forest fire periods, the Standing Office of the Steering Committee may hold monthly meetings to review the previous month's work and plan the next month's implementation; simultaneously directing warning and response measures for forest fire prevention and firefighting work to inform Steering Committee members and localities for implementation. In urgent cases, the Chairman may convene a full meeting of the Steering Committee or the Standing Office of the Steering Committee to promptly address large-scale forest fires or those posing a threat to a wide area of the country.

Article 9. The Steering Committee advises the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with Ministries, Bureaus, Sectors, mass organizations, and other social organizations at the central level to direct localities to implement forest fire prevention and firefighting work.

Chapter 4.

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 10. This regulation applies to the Forest Fire Prevention and Firefighting Steering Committee established pursuant to Decision No. 111/2001/QĐ-BNN dated November 23, 2001, of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 11. Any difficulties encountered during implementation shall be compiled and proposed for supplementation and amendment by the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for consideration and decision by the Steering Committee and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.