Directive No. 15-LS/CNR on the work of developing simple forest management plans for timber farms

DIRECTIVE

OF THE MINISTRY OF FORESTRY NUMBER 15/LS-CNR DATED JULY 19, 1989
ON THE WORK OF BUILDING SIMPLIFIED FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR FOREST AREAS

The forest management program, one of the four target programs of the Forestry sector, has been initiated and completed important tasks in the stage of building management premises: Allocation of forest management levels, classification of three types of forests, issuance of forest usage regulations, technical forestry norms...

The next phase is to build a formal forest management plan for each production and business unit, but this work requires much time and cost.

To overcome these difficulties, the Ministry issues guidelines for building simplified forest management plans so that forest areas can construct them independently and quickly have a forest organization plan ensuring the highest principle of long-term and continuous production based on stable forest capital, rational resource utilization, specific work schedules, easy operation, and implementation.

Specialized units responsible for forest investigation and planning in various regions mobilize their capabilities to implement specific steps (maps, boundary division, provision of materials) to help forest areas quickly build simplified forest management plans.

Forest areas focus on completing the work thoroughly in 1989-90 so that from 1991 all forestry production plans are developed, reviewed, and inspected based on the simplified forest management plan of each unit.

GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING SIMPLIFIED FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS

PART 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The simplified forest management plan defined in this document can only be built on one complete premise, which is:

1.1. The procedures for allocating management levels from province to district have been completed.

1.2. Forest areas have been assigned forests to manage and organize production and business within a number of delineated zones.

2. This document stipulates simple measures so that forest areas, with available materials, their own technical staff, and some financial and labor costs, can independently build management plans for their units.

3. The plan aims to ensure the following objectives:

3.1. Serve as a basis for long-term and continuous management throughout the area.

3.2. Outline a program of activities for a business cycle or rotation period.

3.3. Outline a work schedule for a five or ten-year period.

3.4. Serve as a basis for developing annual production plans.

3.5. The plan is constructed by the director and technical staff of the forest area without being comprehensive, costly, mainly relying on available data and known scientific laws and existing technical information.

3.6. The accuracy of the plan does not require high standards but must propose correct directions and effective implementation solutions. The plan will be gradually refined during production until a formal plan is established.

Annual plans are developed based on the management plan and when implemented, detailed designs (production designs) must be carried out.

PART 2:

COLLECTION OF BASIC DOCUMENTS

Part I. To serve the construction of a preliminary forest management plan for a forest area, at least the following basic documents are required:

1. Maps:

1.1. The smallest scale of the base map is 1:25,000.

1.2. A map showing geographical location, administrative boundaries, road systems, major rivers and streams, residential areas, and reflecting topography.

1.3. A map showing current forest and land conditions.

2. Resources:

2.1. Data on the planned area for special purpose forests and protective forests within the region.

2.2. Land distribution data: Types of forest land, agricultural land (rice fields, gardens, upland fields, lakes).

2.3. Data on the area and volume of various types of forests classified by object.

- Enrichment

- Nurture

- Regeneration harvesting

- Land reserved for planting forests

- Protection and enclosure for recovery

2.4. Current situation and potential for specialty tree and animal business.

3. Some forestry laws and basic parameters regarding:

3.1. Population growth.

3.2. Structural orientation (same age or different ages, seeds or shoots, selective cutting or clear-cutting).

3.3. Natural regeneration capacity.

3.4. Capacity and experience in afforestation and enrichment.

4. Some economic and social situations:

4.1. Population and local labor force.

4.2. Level of social development (transportation, culture, education).

4.3. Agricultural, forestry, industrial, livestock, and gardening practices.

4.4. Development policies, investment potentials, and expansion of agricultural and forestry industries by state authorities at all levels in the region.

Section 2: The method of collecting data shall not be treated as a single investigative step but rather fully utilize existing materials and results, including those from research surveys or applications over a wide area.

1. Collecting materials:

1.1. Parts 1 and 2 of Section 1 can be obtained from provincial forestry development strategy documents, county-level forestry planning documents, and provincial and county forest management division documents regarding maps, to standardize, and may commission professional forest planning survey teams to provide.

1.2. Part 3 of Section 1 can be sourced from scientific reports and research results of central and local forest science stations located within the region.

1.3. Part 4 of Section 1 can be derived from economic and social planning schemes, or through several meetings with local authorities and the public.

2. Preliminary reconnaissance to adjust materials:

Organize a preliminary reconnaissance trip to gain a general understanding of the natural environment and resources of the area, while reviewing the current state of nature against maps and materials to:

2.1. Determine and adjust the boundaries of forest districts and small areas, positions of markers, and borders between maps and actual sites.

2.2. Recheck the resources using field measurements or, if conditions permit, by selecting certain points for bitterlic or at typical standards in representative plots with forests as mentioned in 2.3 (Section 1).

2.3. Evaluate the potential of land suitable for afforestation and vacant hillsides through natural and vegetation cross-sections to anticipate tree species for planting and forest management solutions.

2.4. Formulate plans for expansion, particularly in the first five years, arranging trunk networks, processing clusters, residential areas, energy sources, and concentrated agricultural production zones.

Chapter 3:

DETERMINING PRODUCTION AND BUSINESS INDICATORS

Production and business indicators include harvesting, nurturing, enrichment, afforestation, combined agriculture and forestry production, and socio-economic indicators of the forestry industry.

To determine these indicators, it is necessary to rely on materials collected in Chapter II, specifically identifying the area of forests and forest land for each affected category. These are:

- Area of forests capable of being harvested

- Area of forests requiring enrichment

- Area of forests requiring protective enclosures for conservation

- Area of forests and vacant land requiring replanting

- Area of forests suitable for agricultural production

Section 1: Indicators related to harvesting.

1. For even-aged forests or uneven-aged forests that are expected to regenerate into even-aged forests.

1.1. Determining the rotation period:

The rotation period is an indicator applicable to even-aged or uneven-aged forests during subsequent cycles. It is the time within which all of a management unit's forest is harvested, corresponding to the number of years required for the new generation to reach harvestable age. The rotation period is determined to be greater than or less than the technological maturity age, ensuring the best forest ecological and economic conditions post-harvest. In cases where the forest area is too small and initial capital is needed to quickly rebuild the forest with high-yield special trees or combined agriculture and forestry, the rotation period can be shortened to match the time when special trees and combined agriculture and forestry produce stable products.

1.2. Determining the volume of harvest. The annual harvest volume is calculated according to the formula:

L_v =

Z = total forest stock

r = rotation period

Annual harvest volume per hectare is determined by dividing the total forest area S by the rotation period r.

L_v =

In cases where the forest area is too small, requiring accelerated harvesting speed or switching to industrial or special tree species business, the harvest volume and stock per hectare are equal to the total forest area and total stock divided by the number of years required to form the aforementioned tree species (industrial trees, special trees).

1.3. Divide the rotation period into five-year stages, predict the compartments to be harvested during each stage, and identify the area comprising compartments, plots, and blocks to be harvested in the initial stage. Develop a specific plan detailing the annual expansion progress of this stage, indicating location, volume, and time of harvest. All planning for this stage must be reflected on maps and tables.

2. For selective cutting forests.

2.1. Determining the cutting cycle:

The cutting cycle is a concept applied to selected cutting forests, indicating the time after which harvesting returns to the same forest area. It equals the time required for the forest to be nurtured to a yield and stock equivalent to or greater than the previous harvest.

For good soil, if after harvesting there are no or very few trees larger than the minimum diameter for harvesting per unit area, a 20-year cutting cycle is acceptable.

If after harvesting there are only a few trees meeting the minimum diameter for harvesting, many trees have diameters 2-3 cm below the minimum harvesting diameter, a 25-year cutting cycle is acceptable.

For poor soil, the cutting cycle will be increased by 5 years.

Determination of the logging road network follows forest management regulations (Articles 17, 20, 46).

2.2. Divide the cutting cycle into five-year stages. Predict the forest areas capable of being harvested from the first to the fifth stage.

2.3. Calculate the volume of harvest:

2.3.1. If the forest area is evenly distributed across stages, meaning the rich forest area corresponds to the poor and young forest areas or the rich forest area is much larger than the other two types, calculate the harvest volume in two ways:

2.3.1.1. + Allocate the area evenly across the cutting cycle.

 

s =

+ Estimate the possible yield per hectare = L

+ Multiply the annual harvest area S with the yield 1 to obtain the annual harvest volume.

2.3.1.2. Multiply the total forest stock by the growth rate to get the standing tree yield annually.

2.3.2. If the forest area distribution is uneven for harvesting across stages, meaning there is a shortage in one stage, indicating insufficient harvestable forest, while there is an excess of poor and young forests requiring long-term nurturing before harvesting, two solutions need to be chosen.

2.3.2.1. If only a small amount of timber is needed to generate sufficient capital through combined agricultural and forestry production, including the harvesting of forest products and specialty items, then the entire area of exploitable forest capable of generating such capital can be allocated for the waiting period to nurture poor and young forests until they reach exploitable capacity.

2.3.2.2. However, generally, forestry establishments require initial capital to construct basic infrastructure, develop agricultural and industrial production, quickly shape production bases and social life. Furthermore, extending the exploitation period with an excessively small product volume will affect the organization of industrial forest production. In this case, the exploitable forest area should be divided according to the number of years planned to exhaust the aforementioned forest. Multiply this annual area by the expected yield. After exhausting the forest that meets the exploitation criteria, there will be a waiting period without exploitable area or yield, thus requiring plans to utilize nurturing and enriching the forest to address the need for timber.

2.4. Based on the capability, expansion, and maturity level of the forest, the corresponding areas from zones down to subzones are planned to be exploited in phases. Specifically, the areas to be exploited within the first five years must be planned down to compartments and detailed annually, with projected areas and yields. All these plans must be reflected on maps and statistical tables.

Section 2: Indicators for nurturing, enriching, and planting forests.

1. The area of forest requiring nurturing according to the standards of the forestry regulation is preliminarily classified into three types.

1.1. Type I: Areas of poor forest capable of being harvested within 8-12 years for large timber and 4-5 years for small timber, without the need for thinning.

1.2. Type II: Areas scheduled for harvesting during Phase III-S will undergo nurturing once.₁ will undertake nurturing once.

1.3. Type III: Areas scheduled for harvesting during Phase IV or V-S₂ will be nurtured twice.

The annual area requiring intervention is calculated using the following formula:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual nurturing area =

2. The area of forest requiring enrichment for the entire forestry enterprise is determined strictly in accordance with Article 8 of the forestry regulation (provisional).

Depending on the volume, capital capacity, and technical materials of the forestry enterprise, the entire area needs to be implemented over a phase of 25-35 years. Dividing the total area by the number of years mentioned gives the annual intervention area.

3. The total area required for afforestation is determined according to Article 9 of the forestry regulation (provisional).

Based on land characteristics and the traits of each tree species, determine the volume of area for each type of tree Si.

Determine the business cycle for each type of tree.

Divide the planting area of each type of tree by its cycle and aggregate them to obtain the annual planting area required.

Provincial People's Committees set specific prices_T.R/year= S

For areas planting large timber trees with long cycles in places where small timber can be consumed, with adequate capital and materials, it is advisable to utilize un-planted land to plant 1, 2, or 3 cycles of small timber trees to generate capital and bring the land into production sooner.

The best approach is to plant long-cycle trees at a density of 1 to 2 times the final density (400-800 trees) interspersed with short-cycle trees at appropriate densities to utilize nutrient space.

In such cases, calculate the corresponding annual intervention area based on the planting capacity and method.

Section 3: Agricultural production indicators and combined agriculture-forestry.

Based on the land's capacity to develop agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, as well as the potential for expanding economic and social life, labor and financial investment should be utilized to establish a specific plan for developing agriculture, aquaculture, including:

1. Maximizing the capacity of land and water to set up agricultural cultivation zones specializing in food crop production (paddy fields, dry fields, upland fields, rotational farming).

2. Calculating the possibility of intercropping food crops, agricultural crops, short-term industrial crops, specialty crops in areas undergoing improvement and new forest plantations.

3. Estimating the potential for developing livestock herds and fish ponds for aquaculture.

Section 4: Arrangement of small processing points and cottage industries.

Based on the volume of wood, forest products harvested annually, energy sources, capital, and human resources, small processing points producing semi-finished goods or increasing product value should be arranged to provide employment for local workers and accelerate the formation of residential clusters and economic centers.

CHAPTER 4:

DETERMINATION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS FOR THE MANAGEMENT UNIT

The production and business indicators of the management plan can only be achieved and reach business goals when progressive economic and social conditions are met. Additionally, the ultimate goal of forestry business is to build a forest worker society with increasingly high economic and cultural living standards for workers and local residents.

1. Establishing economic and social development indicators based on the following premises and data:

1.1. Development plans for economic and social affairs within the province, district, and commune where the unit is located. Workers have specific control over certain natural resources and land for production according to the planning and schedules of the forest farm and are responsible and obligated to comply with laws and economic matters concerning state management agencies and production and business management agencies.

1.2. The workload of production and business indicators for Forestry-Agriculture-Industry.

1.3. Economic life conditions and forecasts of scientific and technological progress, trade forecasts related to natural resources, land, climate, and residents of the management area.

2. Key economic and social indicators that need to be determined are:

2.1. Determining the forest management and production management framework

2.1.1. The number of forest divisions, cluster sub-districts with clear boundaries, areas suitable for management levels and production organization, reasonably linked to administrative units (communes, villages, hamlets, tribes).

2.1.2. The number and location of residential points, planning economic clusters, service centers, cultural centers (markets, hospitals, schools).

2.1.3. Determining a reasonable trunk network for transporting products and building economy and national defense.

2.2. Organizing production units:

2.2.1. Moving towards transforming old forest farms and establishing new ones in a suitable management form under current circumstances, characterized by:

- Forest farms having only a forest management framework (from forest farms to sub-districts) and economic and technical staff tasked with organizing, guiding, and providing services for forestry, agriculture, and industry production.

- Forest farms being linked to a state administrative unit (one commune or several communes) to form a relationship: the state agency on the territory performs state management functions, within the territorial scope, the forest farm organizes production and coordinates care for living standards, building forestry economic and social life.

2.2.2. Organizing processing centers for forest and agricultural products, production service stations, and handicraft facilities.

2.2.3. Arranging households (small production units) to specifically manage a certain area of land and forest based on land and resource funds, consistent with the locations of residential clusters and economic-cultural centers.

2.3. Determining management principles and production organization.

2.3.1. Determining the relationship between state authorities at various levels and forest farms, forest divisions, sub-districts.

2.3.2. Determining the relationship between forest farms, forest divisions, sub-districts, and workers (households, smallholders) through responsibilities, obligations, and material economic benefits.

2.3.3. Determining the ratio in the combined Agriculture-Forestry structure.

CHAPTER 5:

PLAN FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT SCHEMES

The indicators set forth in Chapters 3 and 4 must be quantified and localized specifically (on maps and on-site) into a closed operational program according to a chronological sequence within a management cycle. The operational program outlines generally the expansion process of the entire management area, providing an idea of the shaping process and mapping out the overall plan for reorganizing the forest biologically and technologically, for agricultural and forestry production, and for infrastructure construction. In the first five-year period, annual planning targets for the forest farm must be established. This plan is based on the following detailed plans:

1. Annual operational plan for silviculture activities (harvesting, enrichment, improvement, afforestation) expressed in product volume, work volume (hectares, man-days) and specific locations (area of each plot).

2. Agricultural production plan (crop cultivation, animal husbandry) and combined agricultural and forestry production.

3. Labor plan (local employment, adjustment, attraction from other places), labor ratio between agriculture and forestry.

4. Financial and material supply plan, product consumption.

5. Plan for developing public works and infrastructure construction.

The annual production plan must fully reflect the volume of work (tons of products, hectares of affected forests, man-days of labor...) and the location of impact on each plot, adhering to the stability of the forest management scheme while being truly implementable and detailed enough to answer questions such as when, what, where, and how much?

At sub-districts, based on the impact during the planned year, the forest must be verified again, divided into plots and business lots, and production designed for each stage of work, thereby establishing specific annual production plan targets.

CHAPTER 6:

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

1. This document applies to forest farms that have been or will be established but do not yet meet the conditions to develop a complete forest management scheme. If conditions exist to develop a complete forest management scheme, this step is not necessary.

2. Forest farms that have developed and had their economic and technical feasibility studies approved still need to verify resources and land on areas that will be impacted over the next five years to build an operational plan as specified in this document at:

Chapter 3: Section 1, Points (1.3), (2.2), (2.4)

Chapter 4: Points (2.2), (2.3) and Chapter 5.

3. After constructing a simple forest management scheme, it must be approved in writing by the direct managing authority. The time from submission to approval shall not exceed 15 days.

The file of the simple forest management scheme (scheme, diagrams, supplementary tables, operational plan) shall be duplicated in quantities suitable for management and implementation requirements.

4. During the period without an economic and technical feasibility study for a simple forest management scheme, this document serves as the official basis for developing annual plans and determining investment levels for basic forestry construction projects.