Circular No. 21/2017/TT-BNNPTNT guiding the implementation of Decision No. 886/QĐ-TTg dated June 16, 2017 of the Prime Minister approving the Target Program on Sustainable Forestry Development for the period 2016-2020.

CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING DECISION NO. 886/QD-TTg OF JUNE 16, 2017 OF THE PRIME MINISTER APPROVING THE FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2020

PURSUANTWHEREAS, Decree No. 15/2017/NĐ-CP of February 17, 2017 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; cấu tổ chức của Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn;

IMPLEMENTING Decision No. 886/QD-TTg of June 16, 2017 of the Prime Minister approving the Forestry Development Program for the period 2016-2020;n vững giai đoạn 2016-2020;

CONSIDERING the proposal of the Director General of the Forest Administration;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular to guide the implementation of the Forestry Development Program for the period 2016-2020.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides the preparation and implementation of annual and three-year plans for the Forestry Development Program for the period 2016-2020 (hereinafter referred to as the Program); forestry activities funded by state budget for the Program; inspection, supervision, evaluation, reporting system, and organization of the Program's implementation.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, households, individuals, and community groups related to the implementation of the Program.

Article 3. Principles of Organizing the Implementation of the Program

1. Management and operation of the Program shall be carried out according to the principles stipulated in Article 3 of Chapter I of the Regulation on Management and Operation of National Target Programs issued together with Decision No. 41/2016/QĐ-TTg of October 10, 2016 of the Prime Minister.

2. Integration and ensuring compatibility and synchronization between the Program and the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction; orientation for restructuring the forestry sector and the Strategy for Forestry Development for the period 2006-2020; local socio-economic development plans.

3. Ministries, sectors, localities, and units responsible for managing and operating the Program within their jurisdiction shall bear full responsibility for the results of the Program's implementation within their scope of management.

Chapter II

PREPARATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ANNUAL AND THREE-YEAR PLANS

Article 4. Basis for planning

1. Decision No. 886/QD-TTg of June 16, 2017 of the Prime Minister approving the Forestry Development Program for the period 2016-2020.

2. Results of the Program's implementation in the previous year for annual plans; results of the Program's implementation in 2016 and 2017 for three-year plans (including achievement of targets and tasks; situation of mobilization, allocation, and management of state budget funds and other resources).

3. Plans for implementing the Program by ministries, sectors, and localities; urgent and unexpected tasks that have been approved by competent authorities but not included in the annual and three-year plans.

4. Guidelines of the Prime Minister on developing socio-economic development plans and state budget estimates annually; guidelines of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on developing socio-economic development plans and preparing public investment plans annually; guidelines of the Ministry of Finance on preparing state budget estimates annually; guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on preparing plans to implement industry development targets and tasks.

5. Current national mechanisms, policies, technical standards, economic and technical norms, and consumption quotas.

Article 5. Content of the Plan

1. Contents of annual and three-year plans include:

a) Evaluation of the Program's implementation in the previous year for annual plans; situation of the Program's implementation in 2016 and 2017 for three-year plans;

b) Context and forecast of favorable and unfavorable conditions and challenges for forestry development at ministries, sectors, and localities during the planning period;

c) Specific goals and tasks of the planning period;

d) Solutions and organization of plan implementation;

e) Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the plan.

2. The Program implementation plan shall be prepared in accordance with the guidance provided in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

Article 6. Procedures for drafting and implementing the plan

1. Before June 30 each year, organizations and project investors participating in the Program to build the implementation plan for the following year shall submit to the permanent agencies of the Program of the Ministries, sectors, and localities for consolidation and detail as follows:

a) For central Ministries and sectors: The specialized agency assigned by the Ministry or sector shall consolidate and draft the plan.

b) For localities: The People's Committee at the district level shall consolidate and draft the plan for the implementation of the Program by forest management organizations, project investors under the district, and households and individuals within the district. Forest management organizations and project investors under the provincial People's Committee or Departments and sectors shall consolidate and draft the plan for the implementation of the Program by their units.

2. Before July 15 each year, the specialized agency assigned the task (for Ministries and sectors), the Provincial Office of the Program shall consolidate the implementation plan for the following year of the Ministry, sector, and locality, send it to related units for comments (for Ministries and sectors); and submit it to the Provincial Steering Board for review and approval before sending it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (the Program's main body), the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance.

3. Before July 31 each year, Ministries, sectors, and localities shall consolidate the implementation plan for the annual program and send it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance for consolidation. Before March 31, 2018, Ministries, sectors, and localities shall consolidate the implementation plan for the three-year program (2018-2020) and send it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance.

4. Before August 15 each year, the Office of the National Steering Board for the Program shall consolidate and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the proposed plan for implementing the Program nationwide, to be sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance.

5. Before December 31 each year, Ministries, sectors, and localities implementing the Program shall assign detailed annual state budget targets, tasks, and budgets to subordinate agencies and units according to the content and component projects.

Chapter III

FORESTRY ACTIVITIES USING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAM

Part I. ACTIVITIES USING OPERATIONAL FUNDS

Article 7. Prioritized activities

1. Forest protection contracts.

2. Protection of natural protective forests and production forests in communes with difficult socio-economic conditions (areas II and III) as approved by Decision No. 582/QĐ-TTg dated April 28, 2017 of the Prime Minister on approving the list of particularly difficult hamlets, communes in area III, area II, and area I in ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the period 2016-2020.

3. Management and protection of special-use forests, support for communities living in buffer zones around special-use forests.

4. Enclosure and regeneration of forests.

5. Forest protection at the grassroots level (commune level).

6. Issuance of sustainable forest management certificates.

7. Regular activities of the Steering Board and the Program Office.

8. Special activities

Article 8. Forest protection contracts

1. Object of forest

The area of forests transferred by the State to the Forest Management Boards for special-use forests and protective forests; the area of special-use forests and protective forests transferred by the State to forestry companies and armed forces units; the area of forests not yet transferred or leased managed by the People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns (hereinafter referred to collectively as the People's Committee at the commune level).

2. Recipients of forest protection contracts

a) Households and individuals legally residing in the locality (commune, ward, town) in accordance with the Law on Residence 2006; community villages in accordance with the Law on Forest Protection and Development 2004 where the contracting object is located.

b) Armed forces stationed in the area and social-political organizations at the local level.

3. Criteria for determining the contractor and recipient: Implemented in accordance with Clause 4 of Decree No. 168/2016/NĐ-CP dated December 27, 2016 of the Government on forest, garden, and water surface area contracts in special-use forest management boards, protective forest management boards, and State-owned limited liability forestry companies. For areas of forests not yet transferred or leased managed by the People's Committee at the commune level, the contractor is the People's Committee at the commune level, and the recipient is the entity specified in Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Level of forest protection contracts: Apply the provisions of Clause 3 of Article 6 of Decision No. 38/2016/QĐ-TTg dated September 14, 2016 of the Prime Minister on issuing certain policies for forest protection, development, and investment support for infrastructure and public welfare tasks for forestry companies (hereinafter referred to as Decision No. 38/2016/QĐ-TTg).

5. Method of forest protection contracts

a) Implement through annual forest protection contracts.

b) Annually, the contractor has the responsibility to inspect and evaluate the results of the contract implementation by the recipient in accordance with Circular No. 23/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated June 30, 2016 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding some contents of forest engineering management.

Article 9. Protection of protective forests and production forests which are natural forests in communes with difficult socio-economic conditions (Zone II and Zone III)

1. Recipients of support: Ethnic minority households, poor Han Vietnamese households, and village communities residing stably in communes with difficult socio-economic conditions (Zone II and Zone III) within ethnic minority and mountainous regions, as defined by criteria set forth by the Prime Minister (hereinafter referred to collectively as ethnic minority households), who have been allocated protective forests and production forests which are natural forests by the State.

2. Conditions and methods of support: Implemented according to the provisions of Circular Joint No. 93/2016/TTLT-BTC-BNNPTNT dated June 27, 2016 issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the management and use of state budget funds for implementing Decree No. 75/2015/NĐ-CP dated September 9, 2015 of the Government on mechanisms and policies for forest protection and development, linked to rapid and sustainable poverty reduction policies and support for ethnic minorities during the period from 2015 to 2020 (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 93/2016/TTLT-BTC-BNNPTNT).

Article 10. Management and protection of special-use forests, support for community residents in buffer zones of special-use forests

1. Recipients of support: Special-use forest management boards, village community residents in buffer zones of special-use forests.

a) Supporting agricultural and forestry extension activities, providing plant and animal seeds; supporting small-scale processing equipment;

a) Funding for special-use forest management boards to organize the hiring and contracting of forest protection; purchasing equipment for forest management and protection; other activities approved by competent authorities.

b) Investment support for village community residents in buffer zones, including: enhancing production development capacity (agricultural extension, forestry extension, crop and livestock breeds, small-scale processing equipment for agricultural and forestry products); providing construction materials for villages (for public works such as clean water supply, street lighting, communication facilities, village roads, cultural houses...).

3. Level and method of support: Implemented according to the guidance provided in Circular Joint No. 100/2013/TTLT-BTC-BNNPTNT dated July 26, 2013 issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding certain provisions of Decision No. 24/2012/QĐ-TTg dated June 1, 2012 of the Prime Minister on investment policies for developing special-use forests during the period from 2011 to 2020.

Article 11. Encirclement and regeneration of forests

1. Natural regeneration encirclement

a) Forest object: Land planned for the development of protective forests, special-use forests, and production forests that fall under the category of natural regeneration encirclement.

b) Recipients of support: Organizations, individuals, and households implementing natural regeneration encirclement on areas of protective forests, special-use forests, and production forests which are natural forests that have been allocated.

c) Conditions for receiving support: Belonging to the objects specified in point a and point b of this clause; having land use right certificates or land allocation decisions by competent authorities; implementing natural regeneration encirclement and being accepted upon inspection.

d) Level of support: Apply the provisions stipulated in point a of Clause 4, Article 6 of Decision No. 38/2016/QĐ-TTg.

đ) Method of support: Based on the results of natural regeneration encirclement by the objects specified in point b of this clause.

2. Encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees

a) Forest object: Areas of land planned for the development of special-use forests and protective forests: areas of protective forests and production forests which are natural forests allocated by the State to ethnic minority households that meet the criteria for encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees as per Technical Regulation QPN 21-98 issued together with Decision No. 175/1998/QĐ-BNN-KHCN dated November 4, 1998 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

b) Recipients of support: Protective forest management boards, special-use forest management boards, individuals, and households implementing encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees.

c) Conditions for receiving support: Belonging to the objects specified in point a and point b of this clause; having land use right certificates or land allocation decisions by competent authorities; implementing encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees according to approved designs and budgets.

d) Level of support: Apply the provisions stipulated in point b of Clause 4, Article 6 of Decision No. 38/2016/QĐ-TTg.

đ) Method of support: Based on the results of encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees by the objects specified in point b of this clause. In cases where ethnic minority households implement encirclement and regeneration with supplementary planting of forestry trees on natural forests allocated as protective forests and production forests by the State, apply the provisions of Circular Joint No. 93/2016/TTLT-BTC-BNNPTNT.

Article 12. Protection of Forests at Commune Level

1. Recipients of support: The People's Committee at commune level implementing Decision No. 07/2012/QĐ-TTg dated February 8, 2012 of the Government on certain policies to strengthen forest protection work (hereinafter referred to as Decision No. 07/2012/QĐ-TTg).

a) Supporting agricultural and forestry extension activities, providing plant and animal seeds; supporting small-scale processing equipment;

a) Management and protection organization for the area of forests directly managed by the commune-level People's Committee, including: maintaining the operation of mass forest protection teams; disseminating, popularizing, and educating laws on forest protection; labor contracts for forest protection, fire prevention, and firefighting, and other activities within forest management and protection work.

b) Organization of activities against illegal logging and deforestation, fire prevention, and firefighting, including: developing fire prevention and firefighting plans for forests; conducting firefighting drills; training participants in firefighting; supporting participants in forest protection and firefighting who have been injured; activities of the commune-level Command regarding urgent issues in forest protection and firefighting.

3. Level of support: As stipulated in Clause 1, Article 3 of Decision No. 07/2012/QĐ-TTg.

4. Method of support: Annual support according to the budget approved by the competent authority.

Article 13. Issuance of Sustainable Forest Management Certificates

1. Recipients of support: Communities, groups of households, and households with areas of forests that have obtained sustainable forest management certificates from organizations issuing such certificates, which meet the conditions specified in Clause 3, Article 14 of Circular No. 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 3, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the Sustainable Forest Management Plan.

2. Level of support, form of support, and conditions for receiving support shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 5, 6, and 7, Article 5 of Decision No. 38/2016/QĐ-TTg.

Article 14. Regular Activities of the Steering Committee and the Office of the Steering Committee of the Program

1. Activities of the Steering Committee, including: Organizing inspections of the implementation of the Program; spot checks on key areas of illegal logging, fire prevention and firefighting, and illegal trade in forest products; other tasks as stipulated in the Working Regulations of the Steering Committee.

2. Activities of the Office of the Steering Committee and the Provincial-level Program Office: Carried out according to the plan approved by the Steering Committee.

3. Operating funds for the Steering Committee, the Office of the Steering Committee, and the Provincial Office of the Program

a) Central level: Operating funds for the Steering Committee and its Office are allocated in the annual budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. For specific activities of the Program, they are carried out according to the approved budget of the Program.

b) Provincial level: Operating funds for the Steering Committee and the Provincial Office of the Program are allocated in the annual provincial budget. For specific activities of the Program, they are carried out according to the approved budget by the competent authority.

Article 15. Special Nature Activities

Special nature activities include:

1. Support for rice planting to replace shifting cultivation fields as stipulated in Decree No. 75/2015/NĐ-CP dated September 9, 2015 of the Government on mechanisms and policies for forest protection and development, linked with rapid poverty reduction and sustainable support for ethnic minorities during the period 2015-2020;

2. Fire prevention and firefighting in forests; training to enhance the capacity of forest rangers and forest protection forces; patrolling to prevent and stop acts of deforestation and handle violations in forest management and protection, and forest product management;

2. Collection of forest biological specimens; protection and development of endangered forest plant and animal species; conservation of biodiversity in forest ecosystems; rescue of endangered forest animals and plants; control of forest pests and diseases; maintenance of forestry works after investment; surveying and marking boundaries of forest areas;

3. Enhancement of capacity for sustainable forest management;

4. Investigation, assessment, and monitoring of national forest resources;

5. Inspection, supervision, and evaluation of the Program; other activities approved by the competent authority.

Section II. ACTIVITIES USING INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Article 16. Priority Forestry Activities for Investment and Investment Support from the Program

1. Activities to be Invested

a) Planting protective forests and special-use forests.

b) Equipment for forest protection, fire prevention, and firefighting.

c) Construction of infrastructure serving forest protection work at Forest Management Boards; forest rangers' stations and divisions.

d) Construction of high-tech forestry zones and forest product marketing areas (one in the North, one in the Central region, and one in the South).

đ) Construction of biodiversity conservation facilities for special-use forest ecosystems; conservation of certain endangered, precious, rare wild animal and plant species that are at risk of extinction.

2. Activities to be Supported

a) Planting productive forests; increasing productivity and quality of planted forests.

b) Developing forestry tree varieties, non-timber forest products, and scattered planting.

c) Building forestry roads for concentrated raw material areas in units and localities with difficult socio-economic conditions.

d) High-tech forestry development.

đ) Other investment support activities with specific characteristics.

Article 17. Investment Methods

1. For organizations and units: The investment and support for activities as stipulated in Article 16 of this Circular shall be implemented through projects approved by competent authorities in accordance with the Law on Public Investment and related guiding documents.

2. For investment and support for households, individuals, and village communities: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall advise the People's Committee of the province to assign suitable specialized units or organizations to build and implement projects within the province, including compiling and tallying lists and funding needs requested for support from households, individuals, and village communities to integrate them into the local plan.

Chapter IV

MONITORING, SUPERVISION, EVALUATION AND REPORTING SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM

Article 18. Monitoring and Supervision of the Program

1. The Steering Committee of the Program, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities shall inspect and supervise the entire process of implementing the Program according to their functions and tasks.

2. Content of Monitoring and Supervision of the Program

a) Implementation status of regulations on establishing and assigning implementation plans for the Program; supervision and evaluation work of the Program.

b) Implementation status of the Program: results of achieving objectives and tasks; management, utilization, disbursement of funds, and outstanding debts.

c) Organizational and coordination work for the implementation of the Program.

3. Time of inspection and supervision: Carried out regularly (or at random) according to the work plan of the Program Steering Committee, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities.

Article 19. Evaluation of Program Implementation

1. Program evaluation includes: mid-term evaluation, final evaluation, ad hoc evaluation of program implementation status, and evaluation of the Program's impact.

2. Content of Evaluation

a) Mid-term evaluation of Program implementation status, including: the appropriateness of Program implementation results compared to Program objectives; the degree of completion of Program objectives and tasks up to the evaluation time compared to the plan; situation of mobilizing, allocating, and using Program funds; proposals for necessary measures to achieve Program objectives and tasks in the phase (including proposals to adjust the Program if necessary).

b) Final evaluation of the Program, including: evaluation of management, operation, and organization of Program implementation; evaluation of coordination, cooperation, and responsibility of relevant agencies during management and operation of Program implementation; results of achieving specific Program targets, indicators, and tasks; evaluation of the results of mobilizing, allocating, and using Program funds.

c) Ad hoc evaluation of Program implementation when unexpected issues arise or when required by authorized agencies. Evaluation content includes: content specified in point a of this clause; identification of unexpected occurrences (if any), reasons for unexpected occurrences, and responsibilities of relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals; impacts of unexpected occurrences on Program implementation and the ability to achieve Program objectives.

d) Evaluation of Program impact includes: economic and social impact; sustainability of the Program; impact on Program beneficiaries.

3. Organization of Program Evaluation

a) The Forestry General Department is responsible for advising the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize comprehensive Program evaluation according to the content stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

b) Ministries, sectors, and provincial-level People's Committees are responsible for organizing Program evaluation within their management scope according to the content stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Agencies and organizations conducting evaluations: Based on actual conditions and job requirements, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities may conduct self-evaluations or hire independent consultants to evaluate the Program.

Article 20. Reporting System

1. On the 20th of each month, participating ministries, sectors, and the Provincial Steering Committee Office shall compile and report on the progress of Program implementation in their respective areas to the National Steering Committee Office for consolidation. The content and reporting form shall follow Decision No. 241/QĐ-BNN-TCLN dated February 5, 2013 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the reporting system for forestry production activities.

2. On the 25th of each month, the National Steering Committee Office shall compile and report to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

3. The National Steering Committee Office shall compile and report to the National Steering Committee on the Program every six months and annually.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 21. Responsibilities of the Forestry General Department

1. Advise and assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Steering Committee on the Program to manage and organize Program implementation nationwide.

2. Advise and assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Steering Committee on the Program to direct and coordinate the implementation of proactive measures to prevent and respond to urgent situations in forest protection, fire prevention, and firefighting; coordinate inspections and urging localities, units, and forest owners on forest protection and development.

3. Guide agencies, units, and localities in building plans, consolidating plans, and implementing the Program.

Article 22. Responsibilities of the Office of the National Steering Committee for the Program

1. Develop the work plan of the Steering Committee; prepare the content, agenda, meetings, conferences, seminars, and reports as required by the Chairperson of the Steering Committee.

2. Aggregate and develop annual and three-year implementation plans for the Program.

3. Serve as the focal point for receiving, advising, and proposing solutions to handle documents from the Government, Prime Minister, Ministries, sectors, and localities related to the Program; documents from members of the Steering Committee submitted to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Steering Committee regarding areas relevant to the Program.

4. Organize monitoring, updating information, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of targets and tasks of the Program according to the annual and three-year plans of agencies, units, and localities; periodically organize mid-term reviews and final evaluations of the Program's results; establish a database system for managing and aggregating the Program nationwide.

5. Prepare budget estimates for activities of the Steering Committee and the Office of the Steering Committee, submit them for approval by competent authorities; manage the use of human resources, funds, facilities, equipment, assets, and other resources allocated according to the law.

Article 23. Responsibilities of Ministries and Sectors Participating in Implementing the Program

1. Develop annual and three-year plans; coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the Program; take the lead in implementing the Program within their ministries, sectors, and areas under management; manage and allocate capital plans for grassroots projects.

2. Review, build, appraise, approve projects; organize project implementation and manage, evaluate, and accept completion results of projects within their areas.

3. Guide, inspect, urge investors to implement assigned plans, receive and use capital in accordance with the law.

4. Regularly report on the progress of implementing plans at their ministries, sectors, and areas under management; organize mid-term and final reviews of the Program according to guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 24. Responsibilities of Provincial People's Committees

1. Direct investors to build projects within the province, send the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance for comments on investment content and capital balancing before approval.

2. Organize the development and approval of annual and three-year implementation plans for the Program according to each project; implement, supervise, evaluate, and report on the results of the Program within their areas.

3. Assign and delegate responsibilities at each level and among departments and sectors in organizing the implementation of the Program based on the principle of enhancing decentralization and emphasizing responsibility at the grassroots level.

4. Direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to review, build, and implement projects within their areas to achieve targets and tasks for the period 2016-2020; aggregate these in the local public investment plan.

5. Direct the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to determine boundaries and areas of protective forest land, production forest land, and special-use forest land by 2020.

6. Issue mechanisms and policies, guide the organization of implementation of the Program within their areas.

Article 25. Responsibilities of the Provincial Program Steering Committee's Permanent Office

1. Develop the work plan of the Provincial Program Steering Committee; prepare the content, agenda for meetings, conferences, seminars, and reports as required by the Chairperson of the Provincial Program Steering Committee.

2. Aggregate and develop annual and three-year implementation plans for the Program.

3. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments to advise the Provincial Program Steering Committee on plans for allocating targets and specific tasks to organizations and units; organize regular and spot inspections and supervision of the situation regarding the use of state budget funds for direct support and other mobilized funds to implement the Program.

4. Aggregate the results of the allocation of state budget funds for the Program within the province according to each content and field to report to the Provincial Steering Committee, the People's Committee of the province.

5. Serve as the point of contact for receiving, advising, and proposing solutions for government documents, Prime Minister's documents, and related ministries and sectors concerning the provincial Program; documents from Steering Committee members submitted to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Steering Committee regarding fields related to the provincial Program.

6. Organize monitoring, updating information, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of Program targets and tasks according to annual and three-year plans already assigned to agencies and units; regularly organize mid-term and final evaluations to assess the results of Program implementation within the province.

7. Prepare the budget estimate for serving the activities of the Steering Committee and the Provincial Program's Permanent Office, submit it for approval by the competent authority; manage and utilize human resources, funds, infrastructure, equipment, assets, and other resources allocated according to the law.

Article 26. Transitional Provisions and Effective Date

2. This Circular abolishes Circular No. 31/2016/TT-NHNN dated November 15, 2016 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 24/2015/TT-NHNN dated December 8, 2015 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on foreign currency loans by credit institutions and branches of foreign banks to resident borrowers./.

2. Circular No. 51/2012/TT-BNNPTNT dated October 19, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the implementation of forest protection and development tasks as stipulated in Decision No. 57/QĐ-TTg dated January 9, 2012, issued by the Prime Minister shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

3. For forest conservation and regeneration projects with supplementary tree planting that are currently being implemented according to approved projects, the investment development capital can continue to be used. For forest conservation and regeneration projects with supplementary tree planting initiated from the date this Circular takes effect, they shall use public service funds.

4. Legal normative documents cited and applied in this Circular, when amended, supplemented, or replaced according to current State regulations, shall be implemented according to those amended, supplemented, or replaced documents.

5. During the implementation of this Circular, if there are any difficulties, agencies and units should reflect them in writing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration and resolution./.