Decision No. 258/2006/QĐ-TTg on approving the program for surveying, assessing, and monitoring the evolution of forest resources for the period 2006-2010 (Cycle IV).

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the program for investigation, assessment, and monitoring the development of forest resources during the period from 2006 to 2010 (Cycle IV)

 Regarding the investigation, assessment, and monitoring the development of forest resources during the period from 2006 to 2010 (Cycle IV)

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PRIME MINISTER

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

Pursuant to the Law on Protection and Development of Forests 2004;

Pursuant to the Land Law 2003;

Based on the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the program for investigation, assessment, and monitoring the development of forest resources during the period from 2006 to 2010 (Cycle IV) with the following contents:

A. Objectives:

Through comprehensive and continuous investigations of forests nationwide to provide complete information about quantity, quality, and trends in the development of forests in relation to economic and social activities, serving as a scientific basis for the formulation of strategies and plans for the rational use, protection, and development of forest resources and economic and social development throughout the country.

B. Contents:

I. INVESTIGATION, ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF FOREST DEVELOPMENT AND FOREST LAND:

1. Establishing a system of maps and current data on forest resources through:

- Utilizing Spot 5 satellite images provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment across the entire country as a basis for editing and adjusting to build various types of maps: current status of forest resources at a scale of 1/25,000 for 1,000 key forestry communes; current status of forests at a scale of 1/50,000 for districts; current status of forests at scales of 1/100,000; 1/250,000 and 1/1,000,000 for provinces, regions, and the whole country.

- Establishing a set of reference images for satellite image interpretation work.

2. Establishing a system of updated data published every five years, reviewed, monitored, and evaluated at the end of the monitoring cycle (2010).

3. Preparing reports analyzing and assessing changes in forest area between two research cycles to propose solutions for forest management.

4. Printing maps of results for transfer to local management authorities.

II. INVESTIGATION, ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF FOREST QUALITY INDICATORS:

1. Investigating and building a database on the quality of forest resources such as: forest resource stock, species composition... to serve forest resource management.

2. Collecting literature and data from 2,100 primary study plots and 100 ecological research plots.

3. Collecting 2,500 forest plant specimens from 100 ecological research plots to serve the display at the Vietnam Forest Resource Museum.

4. Preparing reports on the processing of primary plot data and reports on the processing of ecological research plot data.

5. Preparing reports on the monitoring and evaluation of forest indicators including:

- Report on the calculation of forest stock in six regions and nationwide.

- Report on the situation of forest growth in six regions and nationwide.

- Report on the analysis of natural forest structure in six regions and nationwide.

III. INVESTIGATION AND PREPARATION OF SPECIAL REPORTS:

1. Investigation, assessment, and monitoring the development of wildlife resources nationwide.

2. Investigation, assessment, and monitoring the development of forest insect resources and forest pests:

- Collecting data to prepare reports on the assessment and monitoring the development of forest insect resources and pests affecting planted forests of certain main tree species in eight regions and nationwide.

- Proposing locations and schedules for monitoring certain natural insect species and reporting annual observation results.

- Supplementing the collection of samples of forest insect pests in Vietnam.

3. Investigation and assessment of changes in non-timber forest product resources.

- Collecting data to prepare reports on the assessment of non-timber forest product resources in eight forestry regions.

- Preparing reports on the investigation of non-timber forest products nationwide and recommendations on management, protection, and development directions for special species in Vietnam.

4. Assessment of the development of forest resources under the influence of economic and social factors:

Conduct investigations to collect data, analyze, and assess the impact of economic and social conditions on the fluctuations of forest resources across eight regions and nationwide.

IV. BUILDING AND UPDATING DATABASES TO SERVE THE FORESTRY SECTOR.

1. Regularly update information and provide databases on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's website.

2. Establish a database system to manage information on forest resources, including:

- Current status maps of forest resources at a scale of 1/25,000 for 1,000 key communes; current status maps of forest resources at district level at a scale of 1/50,000 up to national level at a scale of 1/1,000,000.

- Specialized maps such as elevation contour maps, slope maps, three types of forest planning maps, protective and socio-economic classification maps stored in computers.

- A reporting and research system on basic forest resource information and forestry land organized systematically on the website, facilitating exploitation and utilization.

- Data files from monitoring and measuring systems of primary research plots and ecological study positioning plots.

V. STRENGTHENING AND PERFECTING FOREST INVESTIGATION TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFERRING AND PROMOTING PROGRAM OUTCOMES.

Enhance the application of new technology in forest investigation, information exchange, promotion of results, and transfer to users at central and local levels.

C. BUDGET:

I. THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTATION IS ESTIMATED AT: 49,429,591,000. In case of purchasing housing through installment payments, the payments will be made in the following installments:

II. SOURCE OF FUNDS:

The budget for the Program will be sourced from the annual state economic affairs fund allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 2. Responsibilities of Ministries and Sectors:

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall establish a Steering Committee to implement the Program. The Steering Committee is responsible for managing, supervising, and regularly inspecting participating units, appointing consulting agencies to monitor implementation, and annually certifying outcomes. It shall direct final cycle certification and report to the Prime Minister for approval of the Program's results.2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop plans, balance, and allocate annual budgets for implementation.

Periodically coordinate inspections and evaluations of the Program's implementation results.

Participate in evaluation boards for the certification of Program outcomes.

This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 3. The Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, heads of relevant agencies, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

Article 4. The Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, heads of relevant agencies, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.