Directive No. 130-TTg on the management and protection of rare animals and plants

DIRECTIVE

ON THE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF RARE AND PRECIOUS ANIMALS AND PLANTS

Protecting rare and precious animals and plants is an important task in the mission of protecting nature, biodiversity, and the environment generally, which is receiving special attention from the world.

Our State has issued many legal documents on this issue, but to date, hunting and exploiting rare and precious animals and plants have not been curbed; many species of rare and precious animals and plants have been extinct or are at risk of extinction in the near future.

To strictly implement the State's regulations on natural resource protection, environmental protection, and the preservation of rare genetic resources, for sustainable national development, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Forestry shall promptly organize guidance for inspection and urging strict implementation of the Law on Protection and Development of Forests dated August 19, 1991, and Decree No. 18-HĐBT dated January 17, 1992 of the Council of Ministers on the list of precious and rare forest plants and animals and management and protection regimes; effectively organize the protection of prohibited forests, national parks, and nature reserves; promptly prevent and severely punish violators.

2. The Ministry of Fisheries shall inspect and urge the strict implementation of the Ordinance on Protection of Aquatic Resources dated April 25, 1989; promptly complete and issue guiding documents for the implementation of the Ordinance suitable for each ecosystem (freshwater, brackish water, acid water, seawater).

3. Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for jointly with the forestry and fisheries sectors to inspect the implementation of the laws, ordinances, and decrees mentioned above, make necessary decisions appropriate to local conditions, and organize the people to protect rare and precious and endemic animals and plants belonging to their locality (such as the Sarus Crane in Tam Nong, Dong Thap Province; Rhinoceros in Bac Cat Tien, Dong Nai and Lam Dong Provinces; Blue Peafowl in Ky Anh, Ha Tinh Province, etc.).

4. Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall direct relevant agencies such as forestry, agriculture, fisheries, customs, internal affairs, market management, and commerce in their localities to uniformly implement the following policies and measures:

- Not allowing hotels and shops to display and sell stuffed animals that are rare and precious and endemic to the locality.

- Strictly inspect and prevent illegal trading of rare and precious and endemic animals in domestic markets and border markets for ornamental purposes, medicinal use, or consumption.

- Minimize to the greatest extent possible the exploitation and export of animals used as specialty food such as snakes, turtles, crabs, frogs, and other animals and plants that are not rare but are at risk of depletion, thereby causing ecological imbalance.

5. The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment shall be responsible for:

- Urging relevant sectors to strictly implement laws, ordinances, and related regulations on the management and protection of rare and precious animals and plants. Coordinate with relevant sectors to issue joint circulars providing detailed guidance on the implementation of this directive.

- Promptly publish the "Red Book of Vietnam" so that sectors and localities have a basis for conducting investigations and protecting rare and precious animals and plants; timely supplement newly discovered species into the list of protected animals and plants.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade to consider and officially propose to the Government regarding our country's participation in international conventions against cross-border trade in rare and precious animals; study and propose measures to implement the Convention.

- Coordinate and provide materials for mass organizations and media agencies to publicize and educate to raise awareness about the protection and development of rare and precious animals and plants.

- Regularly report every six months to the Prime Minister on the implementation of this directive./.