Decision No. 28/2001/QD-TTg Amending and Supplementing Decision No. 141/2000/QD-TTg dated December 11, 2000 on investment policies and benefits for households, individuals, and communes participating in the Forestry Area Project and upstream protective forest management in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Phu Yen, and Gia Lai provinces under Loan Agreement No. 1515-VIE (SF).

Pursuant to …;

Amending and supplementing Decision No. 141/2000/QĐ-TTg dated December 11, 2000

on investment policies and benefits for households, individuals, and communes participating in the Projectparticipate in the Project

in the Forestry Area and Upstream Protective Forest Management in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri,

Phu Yen, and Gia Lai provincespursuant to Loan Agreement No. 1515-VIE (SF)

____________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Based on the Law on Forest Protection and Development dated August 19, 1991;

Pursuant to Loan Agreement No. 1515-VIE (SF) dated June 11, 1997 between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Forestry Area Project;

Pursuant to Decision No. 22/TTg dated January 11, 1997 of the Prime Minister approving the Pre-feasibility Study Project for the Forestry Area and Upstream Protective Forest Management in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Phu Yen, and Gia Lai provinces;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Letter No. 173/BNN-CS dated January 18, 2001); opinions of the Ministries of Planning and Investment (Letter No. 828 BKH/NN dated February 15, 2001); Finance (Letter No. 912 TC/TCĐN dated January 6, 2001);

DECIDES:

Article 1. To amend and supplement Article 1 of Decision No. 141/2000/QĐ-TTg dated December 11, 2000 of the Prime Minister on investment policies and benefits for households, individuals, and communes participating in the Forestry Area and Upstream Protective Forest Management Project in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Phu Yen, and Gia Lai provinces under Loan Agreement No. 1515-VIE (SF), including specific provisions as follows:

1. Planting new trees and regeneration combined with supplementary planting of forestry trees in very critical and critical protective forest areas: The State invests 100% of the funding; the investment cost is determined by the provincial People's Committee based on the technical procedures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the local economic-technical norms.

2. Planting forestry trees (concentrated forest planting, scattered tree planting, and agroforestry integration) in less critical protective forest areas and production forests: The State supports the initial investment cycle not exceeding 1.9 million VND per hectare; the specific investment cost is determined by the provincial People's Committee.

3. Improving and constructing village-level infrastructure projects including small-scale irrigation, clean water supply, inter-village roads, primary schools, and health stations: The State invests up to 90% of the total budget estimate approved by the competent authority, the remaining portion is contributed by the beneficiaries and balanced by the local budget. The investment mechanism is implemented according to Decision No. 135/1998/QĐ-TTg dated July 31, 1998 of the Prime Minister on the Socio-Economic Development Program for Particularly Difficult Communes in Mountainous Areas and Remote Regions.

4. Research and application activities, agricultural and forestry extension services: The State invests according to the design and budget estimates approved by the People's Committees of the provinces implementing the Project.

5. Clearing and transforming mixed gardens, opening up new land, and soil improvement: The State supports up to 5% of the total investment cost of the feasibility sub-project approved by the competent authority.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 3. The Ministers of the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance; Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam; Chairpersons of the People's Committees of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Phu Yen, and Gia Lai provinces; and Heads of related agencies shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.