Decision No. 192/2003/QĐ-TTg on approving the strategy for managing the system of natural conservation areas in Vietnam until 2010

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the strategy formanaging the system of natural conservation areas in Vietnam Male until 2010

 

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated December 25, 2001.

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

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the report No. 1650/BNN-KL dated June 27, 2003 regarding the approval of the "Strategy for Managing the System of Natural Conservation Areas in Vietnam until 2010", opinions of the Ministries of Justice, Science and Technology, Home Affairs, Fisheries, Culture and Information, Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, and the General Administration of Tourism.

DECISION:

Clause 4 of Article 6Approve the Strategy for Managing the System of Natural Conservation Areas in Vietnam until 2010 with the main contents as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES:

1. Establish, organize, and manage effectively the system of natural conservation areas distributed across different ecosystems (including terrestrial natural conservation areas, wetland natural conservation areas, and marine natural conservation areas) to contribute to protecting natural resources, biodiversity, and the rich and unique landscapes of Vietnam within the framework of sustainable development. Closely combine conservation activities with development, fully leverage the roles and functions of the system of natural conservation areas to positively contribute to implementing the comprehensive growth strategy, poverty reduction, and industrialization and modernization of the country.

2. Enhance public awareness of the importance and value of natural resources and biodiversity, clearly define the roles, responsibilities, and increase the participation of the people in protecting natural conservation areas.

3. Reform institutional policies for managing natural conservation areas, strengthen the management function of the State over the system of natural conservation areas. Improve the capacity of local authorities and management boards of natural conservation areas in managing natural resources and conserving biodiversity.

4. Strengthen international cooperation, identify sources and approaches to funding.

II. PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES

1. Principles:

The basic principle is sustainable development: Ensuring that current development does not harm the future and effectively managing and protecting natural resources and conserving national biodiversity, specifically:

Management of natural conservation areas and buffer zones must have close and synchronized coordination among sectors and levels from central to local through specific mechanisms and plans. Ensure implementation based on integration, including conservation of genetic resources, species, and ecosystems; prevent risks that may cause damage to these values.

Management plans and organization of conservation activities must fully consider economic aspirations and involve surrounding communities. Raise awareness about the economic, environmental, and scientific value of conservation and enhance the role of state management by People's Committees at all levels, especially commune and district levels, in natural resource management and natural conservation area management within their administrative boundaries.

In natural conservation areas, priority should be given to planning management and promptly taking effective actions in places with high risk such as the threat of extinction of native species or damage to ecosystems.

Regularly update and refer to new research results and information to improve management effectiveness and monitor the outcomes of new management solutions.

Fully understand and correctly recognize information about the traditional use and special relationship of ethnic minority groups with land resources and biodiversity.

The Government will effectively support natural conservation area management through prioritizing annual budget investment and other appropriate support activities.

2. Approach:

Strengthen inter-sectoral management based on clearly defining the lead agency according to the provisions of the Law on Government Organization and Government Decrees stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and responsibilities of ministries in state management.

Integrate conservation and sustainable development to fully leverage the potential and advantages of existing natural resources and biodiversity, creating new resources right from established natural conservation areas for long-term sustainable management.

Socialize natural resource protection and biodiversity conservation efforts.

III. ACTIONS OF THE STRATEGY:

1. Planning the system of natural conservation areas.

Complete the planning and classification of the system of natural conservation areas in Vietnam across different ecosystems (including terrestrial natural conservation areas, wetlands, and marine natural conservation areas), submit to the Prime Minister for review and decision on the system of natural conservation areas in the new period.

Establish priorities for managing natural conservation areas based on the principle of prioritizing biodiversity conservation and criteria approved by competent authorities.

2. Building a legal framework for managing the system of natural conservation areas:

Develop a unified legal framework for biodiversity protection and natural conservation area management. Develop a communication plan and strengthen enforcement of existing legal instruments on biodiversity protection and natural conservation area management.

Review and propose supplements to sub-legislative documents to effectively implement laws on natural resource and environmental protection. Simplify and enhance the effectiveness of regulations already issued and to be issued.

Enhance the capacity of law enforcement organizations and closely coordinate with forest rangers and fishery resource protection forces in enforcing laws on natural resource protection.

Review administrative penalty regulations to propose amendments to fines for violations concerning the protection of various natural resource sources (such as forests, water, fisheries, environment) to avoid discrepancies and unreasonable penalties prescribed in different fields. Consider other appropriate forms of punishment as alternatives to monetary fines for the poor.

Strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of forest rangers, fishery resource protection forces, and customs, including cooperation with enforcement agencies such as police, customs, courts, and prosecution offices.

Study improvements to salary systems and compensation mechanisms for injury for law enforcement personnel protecting natural resources, especially in areas with many difficulties.

Complete and systematize issued legal documents and monitor the implementation of these documents.

3. Enhance management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity.

Clarify the relationship between buffer zones and natural conservation areas through measures to establish operational regulations and principles of coordination between buffer zones and natural conservation areas. Define the rights and obligations of parties involved in managing buffer zones, particularly for ethnic communities in each locality with natural conservation areas. Develop long-term investment plans for buffer zones.

Establish community village conventions on the protection of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity; develop sustainable household economic development models within buffer zones.

Strengthen conservation efforts for endangered wild flora and fauna species through measures to establish botanical gardens, reinforce and develop wildlife rescue centers.

Draft and promulgate legal documents on principles of cooperation and responsibility in eco-tourism activities in natural conservation areas; unify benefit-sharing mechanisms from tourism and reinvestment provisions for management and conservation of biodiversity in natural conservation areas.

Supplement and perfect the system of policies and build buffer zone development models. Develop and widely implement demonstration projects on the use of non-timber forest products and medicinal plant cultivation, scattered and concentrated firewood tree planting models.

Limit fuelwood extraction and ensure sustainable use of non-timber forest products; prevent illegal hunting, storage, and trade of marine life and wild flora and fauna; control imported flora and fauna species.

Prevent and control pollution, reduce environmental impacts on wetlands and marine ecosystems caused by economic development; improve forest fire control and firefighting capabilities; reduce encroachment on forestry land.

Identify deficiencies in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation work to find effective solutions based on analysis and selection of opinions from scientists, managers, conservationists, and local communities.

4. Reform the organizational management system of natural conservation areas:

Ministries and sectors assigned the task of managing natural resources must review their responsibilities in biodiversity conservation and management of natural conservation areas; study and propose a reasonable organizational structure (by sector or inter-sectoral, specialized or coordinated) consistent with Decree No. 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, and authorities of ministries and ministerial-level agencies.

Clearly define the state management responsibilities of central ministries and departments and People's Committees at all levels for various resources in natural conservation areas, specifying matters that provincial People's Committees must report to the competent ministry before making decisions. Enhance the capacity of People's Committees at all levels to better perform state management tasks for special-use forests in their localities according to Decision No. 245/TTg dated December 21, 1998, of the Prime Minister on implementing state management responsibilities at all levels for forests and forestry land.

Enhance capacity and reform the management organization of specialized agencies under ministries tasked with managing the natural conservation area system, such as the Forest Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the Environmental Protection Department (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), and the Fishery Resource Protection Department (Fisheries Ministry). Create conditions for these agencies to effectively assist ministers in state management of natural conservation areas assigned by the Government and improve inter-ministerial coordination.

Reform the organization and management mechanism of natural conservation area management boards to form public service units capable of performing grassroots-level tasks in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and natural conservation area construction according to current regulations.

5. Reform mechanisms for establishing, investing in, and financing natural conservation areas:

Based on reviewing the planning of each natural conservation area, clearly define boundaries and specify the duties and powers of the natural conservation area management board regarding the protection of natural resources within the state-assigned jurisdiction.

Allocate sufficient resources to meet the requirements of approved activity plans to manage all natural conservation areas identified in the natural conservation area system by 2010.

Promptly approve planning for natural conservation areas and create conditions for their establishment and management.

Review and issue new legal documents to redefine procedures and steps for establishing natural conservation areas to eliminate redundant stages.

Establish and promulgate multi-sectoral regulations on the organizational structure and management of various types, categories, and classifications of natural conservation areas, specifying in detail the tasks of the Management Board of natural conservation areas in aspects such as biodiversity conservation, scientific research, basic construction, and ecotourism development.

Study to specify specific tasks for the Management Boards of natural conservation areas regarding programs for socio-economic development in localities within buffer zones.

Study models of organization and management mechanisms for natural conservation areas located across multiple provinces and districts to enhance coordination among localities in efforts to protect natural conservation areas with inter-provincial ecosystems.

Direct the restructuring of the organizations of the Management Boards of natural conservation areas to create conditions for the Management Board of natural conservation areas to become public service units, having autonomy and responsibility for fully performing assigned tasks according to their established legal status.

Supplement necessary means for the management of natural conservation areas, especially communication, transportation, investigation equipment in natural conservation areas to facilitate staff's access to assigned areas and work with local residents.

Issue legal regulations clearly defining responsibilities and contents for the preparation of periodic activity plans (annual, five-year, ten-year) concerning comprehensive natural resource management in natural conservation areas.

Reform financial allocation mechanisms from the state budget: establish specific provisions on support from the central budget to provincial budgets for investment construction and management of natural conservation areas within their jurisdictions; study the establishment of a Natural Resource Conservation Fund formed from various sources to provide funding for activities in natural conservation areas; establish regular cost standards for natural conservation area management based on appropriate criteria, serving as the basis for regular cost allocation for natural conservation areas.

Study and develop regulations to strengthen financial resources and mobilize social financial resources for investment in natural conservation areas (such as fees, taxes, and lottery tickets); establish mechanisms to attract international financial resources for natural conservation areas (such as encouraging foreign investment, reforming partnership regulations to implement ODA more effectively, attracting individual and international organization donations); establish mechanisms for financial contributions from individuals and organizations using natural conservation areas for purposes permitted by natural conservation areas to strengthen investment resources for natural conservation areas.

6. Train and develop human resources, enhancing knowledge and skills in conservation.

Develop and incorporate into management plans research programs on biological diversity resources, natural resource utilization, and related economic and social issues concerning natural conservation areas.

Organize training courses and workshops on: biodiversity survey and monitoring in natural conservation areas; training skills in database construction and management, sample collection, processing, and preservation; improving skills in managing ecosystems based on modern techniques and field equipment for natural conservation area management and development.

Organize training sessions and capacity building on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), report writing, and database management software for provincial and regional natural conservation management officials.

Develop and organize education and training programs to meet the different needs of those directly involved in natural conservation work and those responsible for organizing, managing personnel, and policy planning for natural conservation management.

Train scientists and technicians in long-term database construction programs and short-term strategies for information search on the international information network (Internet), website creation, and uploading; recruit staff for the natural conservation area system according to professional requirements.

Develop domestic and international study tour programs for natural conservation area staff to exchange experiences and information.

Encourage the implementation of concentrated research projects, including within natural conservation areas, covering fields that serve government policy formulation processes.

Conduct assessments of areas where forest planting or regeneration can be carried out in natural conservation areas and determine suitable native tree species for each region.

Enhance skills in developing buffer zone and other nearby area sustainable resource use projects and natural conservation area forest restoration projects.

7. Strengthen information, education, and communication work and engage the community in biodiversity conservation efforts:

Develop information, education, and communication programs to raise awareness about biodiversity and natural conservation areas among communities living in core and buffer zones of natural conservation areas, natural conservation area managers, authorities, and policymakers at all levels.

Train communication officers on biodiversity conservation and natural conservation area protection and designate them as core forces tasked with raising awareness about biodiversity conservation at the grassroots level. Enhance knowledge and skills in implementing communication work on biodiversity conservation and natural conservation area management for natural conservation area management officials.

Popularize knowledge about biodiversity conservation and natural conservation area management for key cadres of communes with natural conservation areas and buffer zones.

Develop communication activities about natural reserves and biodiversity conservation to the community to enhance awareness and management capacity for the community.

Attract organizations such as the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Veterans Association, and local communities to participate in planning and implementing activities to raise awareness.

Incorporate knowledge related to biodiversity and natural reserves into curricula at primary, secondary, and university levels, especially in teacher training schools and boarding schools in mountainous provinces.

Encourage non-governmental organizations to proactively implement knowledge transfer, research, training, and support for the management of natural reserves and buffer zone development, particularly agricultural and forestry activities.

8. Strengthen international cooperation:

Implement the national biodiversity action plan and the strategy for managing the system of natural reserves in Vietnam to increase tangible and specific contributions of the country to the implementation of the International Convention on Biodiversity Conservation.

Review and propose new lists of wetland natural reserves to be included in the Ramsar list to attract domestic and international community attention.

Promote sustainable protection of wetlands and maintain wetland natural reserves (both large and small) from drying up or being used for other purposes that reduce biodiversity and their values.

Assign responsibilities, provide resources, and infrastructure for monitoring compliance with the Ramsar Convention, especially in wetland natural reserves.

Ensure timely and reliable submission of national reports every three years and full participation in member countries' workshops and maintain contact with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

Enforce national laws on wildlife and conduct training seminars on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for relevant agencies in Vietnam.

Enhance the capacity of CITES authorities to implement the CITES Convention by improving access (for example, translating CITES documents into Vietnamese) and participating in meetings of CITES member states. Effectively cooperate in the activities of the Wildlife Monitoring Organization (TRAFFIC).

Strengthen border control along land borders, at sea, and at ports of entry between Vietnam and foreign countries.

Encourage joint enforcement of the CITES Convention between Vietnam and neighboring countries. Develop a National Action Plan to strengthen control over illegal and unsustainable trade in wildlife and plants. Establish a Regional Trade Strategy to ensure international cooperation efforts address wildlife trade issues.

Closely cooperate with TRAFFIC to enhance investigations into illegal wildlife and plant trade (for example, for marine turtle species).

9. Priorities of the Strategy:

Establish necessary legal frameworks for managing the system of natural reserves. Study and develop new laws on Natural Reserve Conservation to regulate social relations in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and natural reserve system management.

Organize a national agency to effectively manage natural reserves in line with administrative reform content.

Establish formal communication links between Management Boards and agencies responsible for developing buffer zones to consider development decisions in both natural reserves and buffer zones.

Develop management plans for natural reserves and regulations allowing development activities within reserves to evaluate and summarize activities and financial plans; upgrade necessary infrastructure directly supporting management, upgrading, and providing field equipment for natural reserves.

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentImplementation organization:

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance are responsible for balancing, allocating funds, coordinating general funding, and coordinating annual state budget assistance for various types of natural reserves.

The Ministry of Science and Technology leads in developing scientific research programs to protect natural resources and conserve biodiversity, serving as a basis for effective natural reserve management.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for organizing the management of special-use forest natural reserves.

The Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for organizing the management of marine natural reserves.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for organizing and managing wetland natural reserves.

The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for incorporating educational content on natural resource protection, biodiversity conservation, and natural reserve protection into school curricula.

The Ministry of Culture and Information is responsible for coordinating with ministries assigned to manage natural reserves to effectively carry out information and communication work.

Social organizations participate in information-education-communication activities according to their functions, mobilizing members and cadres to actively engage in natural reserve protection activities in the community.

Provincial People's Committees have the highest responsibility and authority for implementing the Strategy in each province, establishing appropriate organizational structures locally, developing specific action plans to implement the Strategy, directing district-level implementation of Strategy contents. Coordinate with central ministries, sectors, and donors to attract capital and technical assistance to promote Strategy implementation.

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. The Ministers of the Ministries, the Heads of the agencies at the ministerial level, the agencies under the Government, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.