Circular No. 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT on investigation, inspection, and monitoring of forest changes

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON FOREST INVESTIGATION, AUDITING AND MONITORING

Decree No. 1Pursuant to Article 5/2017/ND-CP dated February 17, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;gThe Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular on forest investigation, auditing, and monitoring.

Pursuant to the Forestry Law dated November 15, 2017;

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

This Circular specifies the details regarding the content of forest investigation and auditing; methods and procedures for forest investigation, auditing, and monitoring. kiểmThis Circular applies to agencies, organizations, households, individuals, and community groups involved in forest investigation, auditing, and monitoring activities.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Forest inventory map

Article 2. Applicability

is an intermediate product that delineates boundaries, positions, and current conditions of forests developed during the forest inventory process.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Group I Forest Owners include individual household owners, individual owners, and community owners.

2. Group II Forest Owners include organizational owners.

3. Reference emission pathway for forests is a standard path used to calculate carbon emissions reductions due to deforestation and forest degradation.

4. Reference pathway for forests is a standard path used to calculate carbon absorption increases from forest protection and development activities.

5. Primary data collection system consists of forms and tables recording actual data during the forest investigation process.

6. Inventory plot is a uniform unit in terms of condition, belonging to a single forest owner, with a minimum area of 0.3 hectares for forest inventory, statistics, and forest management record creation. In cases where the area managed separately by an owner is less than 0.3 hectares, the minimum plot size for inventory equals the managed area.

7. Forest status plot is a relatively uniform unit of forest area concerning the origin of formation, site conditions, species composition, and volume.

8. Standard sampling plot for forest investigation is a defined forest area used to implement representative information collection methods for the investigation area.

9. Broadleaf forest is a forest where broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

10. Coniferous forest is a forest where coniferous tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

11. Palm and coconut forest is a forest where the main component is palm species accounting for more than 75% of the trees.

12. Mixed broadleaf and coniferous forest is a forest where broad-leaved and coniferous tree species are mixed in proportions between 25% and 75% based on the number of trees.

13. Mixed timber and bamboo forest is a forest where the canopy cover of timber trees accounts for 50% or more of the forest's total canopy cover.

14. Mixed bamboo and timber forestis a forest where the canopy cover of bamboo and rattan species accounts for more than 50% of the forest's total canopy cover.

15. Evergreen broadleaf forest is a forest where evergreen broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

16. Deciduous broadleaf forest is a forest where deciduous broad-leaved tree species account for more than 75% of the trees.

17. Semi-deciduous broadleaf forest is a forest where evergreen broad-leaved and deciduous tree species are mixed in proportions between 25% and 75% based on the number of trees.

18. Bamboo and rattan forest is a forest where the main component is bamboo and rattan species accounting for 75% or more of the trees.

19. CLASSIFICATION OF FORESTS Article 4. Classification of forests according to their origin

Chapter II

1. Natural forests, including:

a) Primeval forests;

b) Secondary forests, including: recovering secondary forests and secondary forests after harvesting.

2. Planted forests are classified by tree species and age class, including:

a) Newly planted forests on land without existing forests;

b) Replanted forests;

c) Naturally regenerated forests from harvested planted forests.

b) Planted forests;

c) Naturally regenerated forests from planted forests after harvesting.

Article 5. Classification of forests according to geographical conditions

1. Mountainous land forest, including: forest on hills and mountainous lands.

2. Rocky mountain forest, including: forest on rocky mountains or areas with exposed rocks having little or no soil surface.

3. Permanently or periodically flooded forest, including:

a) Saltwater mangrove forest, including: forest along coastlines and river mouths that are regularly or periodically inundated by saline tides;

b) Acid-sulphate swamp forest, including: forest on permanently or periodically flooded acid-sulphate and brackish water areas;

c) Freshwater forest that is permanently or periodically flooded.

4. Sandy land forest, including: forest on sand dunes and beaches.

Article 6. Classification of forests according to tree species

1. Timber forest, mainly consisting of broad-leaved trees, including:

a) Broad-leaved forest, including: evergreen broad-leaved forest, deciduous broad-leaved forest, and semi-deciduous broad-leaved forest;

b) Coniferous forest;

c) Mixed broad-leaved and coniferous forest.

2. Bamboo and rattan forest.

3. Mixed timber-bamboo and bamboo-timber forest.

4. Palm and coconut forest.

Article 7. Classification of natural forests according to standing volume

1. For timber forest, including:

a) Rich forest: standing volume greater than 200 m3/ha;

b) Medium forest: standing volume from greater than 100 to 200 m3/ha;

c) Poor forest: standing volume from greater than 50 to 100 m3/ha;

d) Very poor forest: standing volume from 10 to 50 m3/ha;

e) Forest without standing volume: standing volume less than 10 m3/ha.

2. For bamboo and rattan forest: classification is based on tree species, diameter class, and density level; detailed classification is provided in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Article 8. Areas without forest

1. Areas with regenerating timber trees in the enclosure and recovery phase to become forest.

2. Areas where forest trees have been planted but have not yet met the criteria for becoming forest.

3. Other areas being used for forest protection and development.

Chapter III

FOREST INVESTIGATION

Section 1

SPECIALIZED FOREST INVESTIGATION

Article 9. Tasks, procedures, and organization of specialized forest investigation

1. Tasks of specialized forest investigation, including: surveying forest area; surveying forest volume; surveying forest structure; surveying forest growth; surveying forest regeneration; surveying non-timber forest products; surveying geographical conditions; surveying forest ecosystem diversity; surveying forest vegetation; surveying forest vertebrate fauna; surveying forest insects and pests.

2. Procedures for specialized forest investigation:

a) Preparation work, including: developing a project outline and budget estimate; preparing necessary materials and equipment; collecting and processing images, maps, and related documents; determining the required sample size according to the investigation content; designing the sampling system on the map;

b) Field investigation, including: establishing field investigation samples; collecting data and specimens from the investigation samples; supplementary investigation of forest condition plots to create current status maps and other thematic maps (if applicable); checking, monitoring, and accepting the quality of field investigation;

c) Processing and internal calculation, including: editing and completing current status maps and thematic maps (if applicable); selecting software, statistical methods, and processing and calculating forest area, forest quality indicators, geographical conditions, biodiversity; analyzing, synthesizing, writing reports on forest investigation results and thematic reports; checking and accepting the quality of specialized forest investigation outcomes.

3. Organization of specialized forest investigation:

a) Specialized forest investigation organizations shall operate in accordance with the provisions of the law;

b) The agency deciding on specialized forest investigation projects is responsible for approving and announcing the investigation results.

Article 10. Survey of Forest Area

1. Contents of the survey of forest area:

a) Survey of the area of primary natural forests and secondary natural forests;

b) Survey of the area of mountainous land forests, mountainous rocky forests, forests on flooded lands, and forests on sand;

c) Survey of the area of planted forests by species and age class;

d) Survey of the area of encircled regeneration zones, newly planted areas that have not yet become forests, and other areas currently being used for forest protection and development;

đ) Survey of the area of various forest conditions according to the forest owner and administrative units.

2. Methods of surveying forest area:

a) The survey of forest area is conducted by forest condition plots;

b) Interpretation of remote sensing images; construction of current status forest maps using specialized software;

c) Supplementary survey of the current status of forest condition plots outside the field;

d) Editing and completing current status forest maps and calculating the area of forest condition plots using specialized software.

3. Results of the survey and assessment of forest area:

a) Current status forest maps according to the requirements of the survey content, ensuring compliance with legal provisions on maps;

b) Original survey data system, summarized data according to Tables 04, 05, and Table 08 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

c) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest area.

Article 11. Survey of Forest Stock

1. Contents of the survey of forest stock:

a) Survey of timber stock in natural forests and planted forests;

b) Survey of bamboo stock in natural forests and planted forests;

c) Survey of timber stock and bamboo stock in mixed forests of timber-bamboo and bamboo-timber.

2. Methods of surveying forest stock:

a) Using standard sampling plots randomly or systematically, with an area of 1,000 square meters, for natural forest conditions larger than 2,000 hectares;

b) Using typical standard sampling plots with an area from 500 square meters to 1,000 square meters, for natural forest conditions smaller than 2,000 hectares; sampling area ratio from 0.01% to 0.1%;

c) Using typical standard sampling plots for each forest condition (species, age class), with an area from 100 square meters to 500 square meters for planted forests; sampling area ratio from 0.01% to 0.05%;

d) Survey of timber trees and bamboo trees including: identifying tree species, quality, measuring height to top, diameter at breast height (DBH); in cases where it is necessary to calculate lost forest stock, measure DBH for felled trees still present on-site, and measure stump diameter for trees only leaving stumps;

đ) Using rapid forest stock survey devices;

e) Using pre-established yield tables for reference;

g) Using specialized software and mathematical statistical methods to calculate forest stock.

3. Results of the survey of forest stock:

a) Original survey data system and summary tables of forest stock according to Tables 01, 02, 03, 06, 07, and Table 09 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

b) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest stock.

Article 12. Survey of Forest Structure

1. Contents of the survey of forest structure:

a) Average forest compartment indicators, including: diameter at breast height (DBH), height to top, cross-sectional area, stock;

b) Composition structure of the forest;

c) Density structure of forest trees;

d) Canopy layer structure of the forest;

đ) Forest canopy cover;

e) Distribution of trees by DBH;

g) Distribution of trees by height;

h) Correlation between height and DBH.

2. Methods of surveying forest structure:

a) Using typical standard sampling plots with a minimum area of 2,000 square meters to survey forest structure;

b) Measuring and collecting indicators, including: name of forest tree, DBH, height to top, height below branches, crown diameter; drawing longitudinal and transverse profiles of the timber tree layer at a scale of 1/100;

c) Using mathematical methods and software to calculate average forest compartment indicators as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of the survey of forest structure:

a) Original survey data system, summary tables of survey results on forest structure according to Tables 01, 10, and Table 29 in Appendix II attached to this Circular;

b) Transverse and longitudinal profiles of forest spatial structure;

c) Report on the results of the survey and assessment of forest structure.

Article 13. Forest Growth Survey

1. Contents of the forest growth survey:

a) Annual continuous growth;

b) Periodic continuous growth;

c) Average periodic growth;

d) General average growth;

đ) Growth rate;

e) Survey of individual tree growth, including: diameter, height, trunk shape, and volume of trees;

g) Survey of forest compartment growth, including: density, average diameter, average height, total cross-sectional area, and forest compartment stock.

2. Methods for conducting the forest growth survey:

a) Methods for surveying individual tree growth, including: tree section analysis method, increment boring method, periodic measurement method over time, and using growth models for certain tree species;

b) Methods for surveying forest compartment growth, including: establishing fixed plots to measure and record growth indicators of forest compartments over the years; in the case of planted forests, growth surveys are conducted according to land levels;

c) Calculation methods for forest growth at points a, b, c, d, and đ of Clause 1 of this Article, as stipulated in Table 11 of Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Results of the forest growth survey:

a) Original data system and summary tables of the forest growth survey results according to Tables 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and Table 16 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Report on the results of the forest growth survey and assessment.

Article 14. Forest Regeneration Survey

1. Contents of the forest regeneration survey:

a) Names of regenerating tree species;

b) Height of regenerating trees;

c) Origin of regenerating trees;

d) Density of regenerating trees;

đ) Composition of regenerating trees;

e) Distribution level of regenerating trees;

g) Quality of regenerating trees;

h) Relationship between regenerating trees and the woody canopy layer;

i) Prospective regeneration tree ratio.

2. Methods for conducting the forest regeneration survey:

a) Using standard plots to count regenerating trees, arranged within standard plots for timber tree surveys, fixed plots, or within areas designated for regeneration forest cultivation;

b) Collecting information and measuring indicators as specified in points a, b, c, e, and g of Clause 1 of this Article;

c) Using mathematical statistics and software to calculate average height of regenerating trees, average density of regenerating trees, quality groups of regenerating trees, and other indicators as specified in points đ, h, and i of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Results of the forest regeneration survey:

a) Data system and summary tables of the forest regeneration survey results according to Tables 17 and 18 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Summary of prospective regenerating trees according to Table 19 of Appendix II attached hereto;

c) Report on the results of the forest regeneration survey and assessment.

Article 15. Non-Timber Forest Product Survey

1. Contents of the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Fiber products, including: bamboo, rattan, reed, rush, leaf, and fiber-bearing plant stems, and various grasses;

b) Plant-based food products, including: stem, shoot, root, tuber, leaf, flower, fruit, nut, spice, oilseed, and mushroom;

c) Medicinal and cosmetic products derived from plants;

d) Extracts, including: resin, oil resin, latex, dye, fat, and essential oils;

đ) Other non-timber forest products.

2. Methods for conducting the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Species composition survey: using typical survey lines or typical standard plots to identify all non-timber forest products appearing along the survey line or within the standard plot;

b) Area survey: using the method prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 10 of this Circular to survey the area of non-timber forest products in natural forests; compiling and stacking maps of planted non-timber forest products to supplement the area of planted non-timber forest products;

c) Stock survey: in cases where non-timber forest products are parts of timber trees, using the method prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 11 of this Circular; in cases where non-timber forest products originate from other plants, setting up standard plots to count all individuals of non-timber forest products, identifying the usable parts of each tree, determining the yield of each tree to determine annual stock and potential; in cases where non-timber forest products originate from animals, setting up survey lines combined with interviews of local people to determine the usable parts, annual yield to calculate stock.

3. Results of the non-timber forest product survey:

a) Original data system and summary tables of the non-timber forest product survey results according to Tables 03, 07, 20, 21, and Table 22 of Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Map of non-timber forest product distribution;

c) Report on the results of the non-timber forest product survey and assessment.

Article 16. Land Surveying

1. Contents of land surveying:

a) Level 1 land surveying;

b) Level 2 land surveying;

c) Level 3 land surveying;

d) Forest land surveying;

đ) The level of detail for each indicator of Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 land surveying and forest land according to Table 23 in Appendix II attached hereto.

2. Methods of land surveying:

a) Using standard land surveying grids with areas from 100 to 200 square meters; describing landform factors including topography, terrain, climate, hydrology, surface cover;

b) Excavating, describing soil cross-sections, and analyzing soil indicators according to Table 23 and Table 24 in Appendix II attached hereto;

c) Overlapping maps.

3. Results of land surveying:

a) Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 landform maps in accordance with the law on maps;

b) Original data system of surveys, soil analysis tables;

c) Description of landform maps.

Article 17. Individual Tree Survey

1. Contents of individual tree survey:

a) Surveying the shape of the tree trunk, including: standard form and natural form of the tree trunk;

b) Surveying fallen trees or parts of the tree trunk, including: diameter, length (or height) of the tree trunk and volume of the tree (with bark, without bark);

c) Surveying standing trees, including: diameter at breast height, base diameter, canopy diameter, height to top, height below branches, volume of the tree (with bark, without bark) and quality of the tree;

d) Surveying felled stumps, including: diameter and height.

2. Methods of individual tree survey:

a) Using specialized measuring tools for forest surveys to measure directly on standing tree trunks or fallen tree parts and felled stumps;

b) Determining standard form: dissecting the tree trunk to calculate the actual volume of the tree and comparing it with the volume of a cylinder with a diameter equal to the diameter at breast height on the tree trunk and the height of the cylinder equal to the length of the tree trunk;

c) Determining natural form: dissecting the tree trunk to calculate the actual volume of the tree and comparing it with the volume of a cylinder with a diameter equal to the diameter at one-tenth from the base on the tree trunk and the height equal to the length of the tree trunk;

d) Calculating the volume of fallen tree parts: the formula for calculating the volume of fallen tree parts or round logs is calculated by multiplying the average cross-sectional area (x) by the length of the fallen tree or round log;

đ) Indirectly calculating the volume of standing trees through the formula: V = G.H.F (where: V is the volume of the tree trunk; G is the cross-sectional area of the tree trunk; H is the height of the tree; F is the form factor) or using pre-established volume tables and pre-established volume calculation models to determine the volume of standing trees;

e) Measuring the canopy diameter of the tree through ground projections of the canopy or drawing horizontal transects of the canopy according to their true shape and distribution within the forest compartment;

g) Evaluating the quality of standing trees through observation of the morphology and growth development of the tree to classify them into good, medium, and poor grades.

3. Results of individual tree survey:

a) Measurement data system, collected and synthesized results of individual tree surveys, calculations according to Table 25 and Table 26 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Report on survey results and evaluation of individual trees.

Article 18. Forest Ecosystem Diversity Survey

1. Contents of forest ecosystem diversity survey:

a) Surveying the area of different types of forest vegetation layers;

b) Surveying basic characteristics of forest ecosystems, including groups of factors: forest animals, forest plants, geography, topography, climate, hydrology, and human impact factors;

c) Surveying the structure of other ecosystems, including: natural and artificial water surfaces, grasslands, shrubs, and other habitats.

2. Methods of forest ecosystem diversity survey:

a) Using current forest maps according to point a, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular to identify types of forest vegetation layers;

b) Using typical standard grids with an area of 2,000 square meters to survey different types of forest vegetation layers, describing characteristics as specified in points b and c, Clause 1, of this Article.

3. Results of forest ecosystem diversity survey:

a) Ecosystem forest map showing the distribution boundaries of emerging ecological vegetation layer types in accordance with the law on maps;

b) Report on the description of forest ecosystem diversity.

Article 19. Survey of Forest Plant Diversity

1. Contents of the survey on forest plant diversity:

a) Survey of forest plant components, including: vascular plants and non-vascular plants;

b) Establishing a list of forest plant species;

c) Determining the forest plant geographical factors;

d) Determining the forest plant life forms;

đ) Determining the uses of forest plants;

e) Surveying the distribution of endangered, precious, and rare forest plant species.

2. Methods for surveying forest plants:

a) Using typical transects passing through different elevations, landforms, and forest conditions; identifying all plant species present; recording the life forms and uses of plants according to Table 27 in Appendix II attached hereto; determining the distribution of endangered, precious, and rare forest plant species on maps or using GPS along the survey transect combined with interviews of local residents;

b) Collecting and describing forest plant voucher specimens according to Table 28 in Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Results of the forest plant survey:

a) A list of plants according to Table 29 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) A list of endangered, precious, and rare forest plant species;

c) A map of the distribution of endangered, precious, and rare forest plants;

d) Forest plant voucher specimens;

đ) Report on the results of the forest plant diversity survey and assessment.

Article 20. Survey of Forest Vertebrate Animal Diversity

1. Contents of the survey on forest vertebrate animal diversity:

a) Survey and establish a list of mammals;

b) Survey and establish a list of birds;

c) Survey and establish a list of reptiles and amphibians;

d) Survey and establish a list of fish;

đ) Survey populations, distributions, and establish a list of endangered, precious, and rare animal species.

2. Methods for surveying forest vertebrate animals:

a) Using representative transects and points for various habitats; observing directly, counting individuals and groups, group structure for large mammals, range of activity for groups; recognizing calls and songs; recognizing characteristic signs; using camera traps; recording forest vertebrate animal survey data according to Table 30 in Appendix II attached hereto; collecting and describing voucher specimens according to Table 31 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Surveying preserved specimens and signs at villages and combining with interviews of local residents.

3. Results of the survey on forest vertebrate animal diversity:

a) A list of forest animals according to Table 32 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) A list of endangered, precious, and rare forest animals;

c) A map of the distribution of endangered, precious, and rare forest animals;

d) Forest animal voucher specimens and description forms;

đ) Report on the results of the forest vertebrate animal survey and assessment.

Article 21. Survey of Forest Insects and Forest Pests and Diseases

1. Contents of the survey on forest insects and forest pests and diseases:

a) Survey of forest insects, including: species composition, density, distribution;

b) Establishing a list of forest insects;

c) Establishing a list of endangered, precious, and rare forest insect species;

d) Surveying and forecasting forest pests and diseases;

đ) Collecting voucher specimens of forest insects and forest pests and diseases.

2. Methods for surveying forest insects and forest pests and diseases:

a) Using a standard plot for forest surveys with an area of 2,500 square meters; setting up systematic transects within the standard plot for surveying flying insects, establishing 1-square-meter plots for surveying ground-dwelling insects, selecting standard trees for surveying tree-dwelling insects or forest pests and diseases; recording forest insect survey indicators according to Table 33 in Appendix II attached hereto; collecting and describing forest insect and forest pest and disease voucher specimens according to Table 34 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) Using typical transects to collect data and voucher specimens of forest pests and diseases.

3. Results of the survey on forest insects and forest pests and diseases:

a) A list of forest insects according to Table 35 in Appendix II attached hereto;

b) A list of forest pests and diseases;

c) A list of endangered, precious, and rare forest insects;

d) Voucher specimens of forest insects, pests, and diseases and description forms;

đ) Report on the results of the forest insect survey;

e) Report on the results of the forest pest and disease survey and forecast.

Article 22. Inventory of forest biomass and carbon stock

1. Contents of inventory of forest biomass and carbon stock:

a) Inventory of living plant biomass, including above-ground and below-ground parts of trees;

b) Inventory of forest carbon stock, including carbon in living biomass as specified in point a of this clause; carbon in dead wood; carbon in litter; carbon in soil;

2. Methods for inventory of forest biomass and carbon stock:

a) Establishing standard plot systems as prescribed in points a and b of Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular to collect data for calculating biomass and converting carbon stock;

b) Collecting survey samples, including standing trees, regenerating trees, shrubs, fresh vegetation, vines, litter, and underground tree parts to directly calculate carbon stock;

c) Sampling soil and analyzing carbon stock in soil;

d) Calculating carbon stock either directly from survey samples as specified in point b of this clause or indirectly converting from biomass as prescribed in point a of this clause;

3. Results of inventory of forest biomass and carbon stock: report on the results of the survey, assessment of forest biomass and carbon stock.

Section 2

PERIODIC FOREST INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT

Article 23. Tasks, procedures, and organization of periodic forest inventory and assessment

1. Tasks of periodic forest inventory and assessment According to management objectives and requirements, specific tasks of periodic forest inventory are determined as follows:

a) Inventory of forest area as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 10 of this Circular;

b) Inventory of forest volume as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 11 of this Circular; inventory of non-timber forest products as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 15 of this Circular; inventory of carbon stock as prescribed in point b, Clause 1, Article 22 of this Circular;

c) Inventory of forest structure as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 12 of this Circular;

d) Inventory of forest growth as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 13 of this Circular;

đ) Inventory of forest regeneration as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 14 of this Circular;

e) Inventory of shrub structure and fresh vegetation;

g) Inventory of site establishment as prescribed in point d, Clause 1, Article 16 of this Circular;

h) Inventory of ecosystem diversity as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 18 of this Circular;

i) Inventory of forest plant diversity as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 19 of this Circular;

k) Inventory of terrestrial wildlife diversity in forests as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 20 of this Circular;

l) Inventory of forest insects and forest pests as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 21 of this Circular.

2. Procedures for periodic forest inventory and assessment:

a) Preparation work, including: drafting and planning the periodic forest inventory and assessment; developing and issuing technical measures for implementation; preparing necessary materials and equipment; collecting data from previous periodic forest inventory and assessment; designing cluster plots and ecological positioning plots on maps; interpreting satellite images to create current forest status maps;

b) Field survey, including: establishing cluster plots and ecological positioning plots in the field; collecting data and samples from cluster plots and ecological positioning plots; supplementary surveys to build forest status maps and current forest status maps; inspecting, supervising, and accepting the quality of field surveys;

c) Processing and internal calculation, including: editing and completing current forest status maps; selecting software, statistical methods, and processing and calculating forest area, forest quality indicators, site establishment, biodiversity; analyzing, synthesizing, writing reports on the results of periodic forest inventory; inspecting and accepting the quality of periodic forest inventory results;

d) Establishing and updating the database system for periodic forest inventory and assessment.

3. Organization of periodic forest inventory and assessment:

a) The Forestry General Department submits to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval the investment policy, outline, and budget estimate for implementing periodic forest inventory and assessment nationwide;

b) Specialized agencies assigned to implement technical contents according to the methods prescribed in Article 24 of this Circular;

c) The Forestry General Department monitors the implementation process, accepts annual implementation results; completes files for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval after the end of the periodic inventory cycle;

d) The inventory cycle and the publication of inventory results are regulated in Clause 2, Article 33 of the Forest Law.

Article 24. Methods for periodic forest survey and assessment

1. The area of forests shall be surveyed periodically using the method prescribed in Clause 2, Article 10 of this Circular.

2. Forest quality shall be surveyed through a grid system:

a) Across the entire forest area and areas without forests, establish a square grid network with each cell measuring 8 km x 8 km, placing one cluster of grids within each cell.

b) Within each cluster, set up five measurement grids in the shape of an "L"; the distance between each measurement grid is 150 meters; each measurement grid has an area of 1000 square meters.

c) Every five years, conduct surveys and collect data from the clusters, including: forest stock indicators according to the methods specified in Point d and Point g, Clause 2, Article 11 of this Circular; forest regeneration indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2, Article 14 of this Circular; determine the species composition and volume of non-timber forest products according to the provisions in Point c, Clause 2, Article 15 of this Circular; determine the species composition, measure the height and canopy cover of shrubs and fresh vegetation; survey forest carbon stock according to the methods specified in Points b, c, and d, Clause 2, Article 22 of this Circular.

3. Forest quality shall be surveyed through a national ecological positioning grid system:

a) Select 10% of the positions of the 8 km x 8 km cells representing various types of forests based on altitude, sub-ecoregions, and ecoregions, establishing a national ecological positioning grid system with an area of 100 hectares per grid.

b) Within each ecological positioning grid, establish three research grids with an area of 1 hectare each.

c) Every five years, conduct surveys and collect data within the ecological positioning grids, including: forest stock indicators, forest regeneration indicators, non-timber forest product indicators, shrub indicators, fresh vegetation indicators, and forest carbon stock indicators according to the provisions in Point c, Clause 2, of this Article; forest structure indicators according to the methods specified in Points b and c, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular; forest growth indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2, Article 13 of this Circular; site indicators according to the method specified in Point b, Clause 2, Article 16 of this Circular; forest ecosystem diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2, Article 18 of this Circular; use current forest maps as specified in Point a, Clause 3, Article 10 of this Circular to identify forest vegetation types and describe the basic characteristics of forest ecosystems; forest plant diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2, Article 19 of this Circular; forest wildlife diversity indicators according to the method specified in Clause 2, Article 20 of this Circular; use research grids to survey forest insect and pest indicators according to the method specified in Point a, Clause 2, Article 21 of this Circular.

d) Between five-year cycles, review and update information on changes in forest owners, forest area, and other changes due to external impacts within the national ecological positioning grids.

Chapter IV

FOREST INVENTORY

Article 25. Tasks and organization of forest inventory

1. Tasks of forest inventory include: status inventory; management authority inventory; purpose of use inventory; and establishment of forest management records.

2. Organization of forest inventory:

a) The Forestry General Department shall submit a proposal to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval, develop a project, and organize the implementation of forest inventory in accordance with the law.

b) People's Committees at all levels shall organize the implementation of forest inventory in their respective localities.

c) The Provincial People's Committee shall approve and announce the provincial forest inventory results.

d) The Forestry General Department shall compile and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and announcement of the national forest inventory results.

Article 26. Forest Inventory Procedure

1. The General Department of Forestry provides national forest survey information at the nearest time point for localities to conduct forest inventory.

2. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development guides forest owners to implement forest inventory within their province.

3. Specialized forestry agencies carry out technical contents including:

a) Overlaying village-level current forest status maps and land allocation maps onto satellite images to create maps for forest inventory purposes;

b) Determining specific locations and boundaries of forest owners on maps for forest inventory purposes;

c) Handing over results according to point b, Clause 3, Article 26 of this Circular to forest owners.

4. Forest owners check the current status of forests at the time of inventory and fill in Information Form 01 and Information Form 02 attached as Appendix III to this Circular.

5. County-level Forest Protection Sub-department coordinates with forest owners, local authorities, and specialized forestry agencies to perform tasks:

a) Inspecting the field to adjust positions, boundaries, and other information of inventory plots when necessary;

b) Adjusting attribute information into each inventory plot on digital maps when there are changes;

c) Editing and completing village-level forest inventory maps, establishing forest management files according to Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 31 of this Circular.

6. Commune People's Committees and County People's Committees confirm forest inventory maps and forest management files of corresponding administrative levels and send them to Provincial Forest Protection Departments.

7. Provincial Forest Protection Departments coordinate with specialized agencies to perform tasks:

a) Combining inventory result maps of smaller administrative units into larger administrative unit maps;

b) Compiling summary tables of inventory results by administrative level according to Information Forms 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, and Information Form 10 attached as Appendix III to this Circular;

c) Establishing provincial-level forest management files according to Clause 2, Article 31 of this Circular.

Article 27. Inventory by Status

1. Inventory of forest area and volume:

a) Natural forests and planted forests;

b) Forests on mountain soil, forests on rocky mountains, flooded forests, and forests on sand;

c) Timber forests, bamboo forests, mixed timber and bamboo forests, and palm coconut forests.

2. Inventory of areas without forests:

a) Areas with regenerating trees in the enclosure and recovery phase to become forests;

b) Areas where forest trees have been planted but have not yet met the criteria for becoming forests;

c) Other areas being used for forest protection and development.

Article 28. Inventory by Management Owner

1. Inventory of forest volume and area of forest owners specified in Article 8 of the Forestry Law.

2. Inventory of forest area and volume managed by Commune People's Committees.

Article 29. Inventory by Purpose of Use

1. Inventory of special-purpose forests, including: national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, scenic protection areas, scientific research experimental forests, national botanical gardens, and national seedling forests.

2. Inventory of protective forests, including: headwater protective forests, community water source protective forests, border protective forests, windbreak forests, sand-stopping forests, and wave-stopping and coastal advance protective forests.

3. Inventory of production forests, including: natural forests and planted forests.

Article 30. Inventory Results

1. Forest inventory result maps using the VN2000 reference system at scale as prescribed by law on maps:

a) Commune level: minimum scale of 1/10,000;

b) District level: scale of 1/50,000;

c) Provincial level: scale of 1/100,000;

d) National level: scale of 1/1,000,000;

đ) Forest inventory result maps of Forest Owners Group II: scale appropriate to corresponding area.

2. The system of summary tables for forest inventory results by administrative levels shall be implemented in accordance with point b, Clause 7, Article 26 of this Circular.

Article 31. Establishing Forest Management Files

1. Forest management files of Forest Owners:

a) Forest management files of Forest Owners Group I shall be established according to Form 11 in Appendix III attached to this Circular, wherein the land parcel location map is extracted from the commune-level forest inventory result map;

b) Forest management files of Forest Owners Group II shall be established according to Form 12 in Appendix III attached to this Circular.

2. Forest management files by administrative units, including:

a) Forest management books: commune level, according to Form 13 in Appendix III attached to this Circular; district level, according to Form 14 in Appendix III attached to this Circular; provincial level, according to Form 15 in Appendix III attached to this Circular;

b) System of forest inventory result maps at all levels, as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 30 of this Circular;

c) System of forest inventory result tables, as stipulated in point b, Clause 7, Article 26 of this Circular.

Chapter V

MONITORING FOREST CHANGES

Article 32. Tasks and Requirements for Monitoring Forest Changes

1. Tasks for monitoring forest changes:

a) Monitor changes in forest area by forest status;

b) Monitor changes in forest area by Forest Owner;

c) Monitor changes in forest area by purpose of forest use;

d) Monitor changes in forest area by causes.

2. Requirements for monitoring forest changes:

a) Use the forest inventory results integrated into the central database for monitoring forest changes located at the General Department of Forestry (referred to as Central Data) as the original data to implement annual monitoring of forest changes. The data published in the previous year serves as the basis for implementing the monitoring of forest changes in the following year;

b) Use the Forest Change Update Software issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Use necessary surveying equipment and tools, including personal computers, satellite positioning devices, tablets to delineate forest plots with changes.

Article 33. Procedures for Implementing Forest Change Monitoring

1. Collect information on forest changes:

a) Within fifteen days from the date of forest area change, Forest Owners Group II must report to the Forest Protection Division of the district, and Forest Owners Group I must report to the local forest rangers about the changes in assigned or leased forest areas. Local forest rangers report to the Forest Protection Division of the district regarding changes in forest areas managed by the People's Committee of the commune and accept, collect, and verify information on forest changes reported by Forest Owners Group I;

b) The format of the report on forest area changes is according to Form 01 in Appendix IV attached to this Circular.

2. Time points for determining forest changes due to causes are as follows:

a) After the completion acceptance record of afforestation results or after the end of the planting season, the results of encircling and regenerating into forests according to the causes specified in point a and point c, Clause 1, Article 37 of this Circular;

b) Three years after the completion acceptance record of afforestation results or after the end of the first planting season for the cause specified in point b, Clause 1, Article 37 of this Circular;

c) The time point of the end of main forest harvesting for the cause specified in point a, Clause 2, Article 37 of this Circular;

d) Inspection records determining the area of damaged forests by competent authorities for the causes specified in points b, c, and d, Clause 2, Article 37 of this Circular;

đ) Completion acceptance records of wood and forest product utilization by competent authorities for the cause specified in point đ, Clause 2, Article 37 of this Circular;

e) Documents or inspection records established by competent authorities for the causes specified in point d, Clause 1, and point e, Clause 2, Article 37 of this Circular.

3. Updating forest changes:

a) Within thirty days from the date of receiving reports on forest changes from Forest Owners or local forest rangers, the Forest Protection Division of the district shall check the forest change files; verify on-site; update changes into the forest change update software and synchronize the updated results to the central data;

b) The Provincial Forest Protection Service shall review and evaluate the completeness of documents, data, databases, and forest change update results reported by the Forest Protection Division of the district; compile the results of forest change monitoring and non-forest areas throughout the province;

c) The National Forest Protection Service shall compile the national results of forest change monitoring;

d) The content of collecting and updating information on forest changes is regulated in Articles 34, 35, 36, and Article 37 of this Circular.

4. Approving and Announcing the Results of Forest Change Monitoring

a) Approval file, including: Request for approval of forest change monitoring results; summary tables according to Forms 02, 03, 04, and Form 05 in Appendix IV of this Circular; report on the situation of forest changes, analysis of reasons for increases and decreases in forest areas and non-forest areas during the period compared to the same period of the previous year; forest change monitoring database, including current forest condition maps and map attribute information (in digital form);

b) The Forest Protection Division of the district shall establish the approval file in accordance with point a, Clause 4 of this Article, submit to the People's Committee of the district for decision to announce the current forest conditions, report to the Provincial Forest Protection Service before January 31 of the following year;

c) The Provincial Forest Protection Service shall establish the approval file in accordance with point a, Clause 4 of this Article, report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for submission to the People's Committee of the province for decision to announce the current forest conditions, report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development before February 28 of the following year;

d) The National Forest Protection Service shall establish the approval file in accordance with point a, Clause 2 of this Article, report to the General Department of Forestry for submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for decision to announce the national current forest conditions before March 31 of the following year.

Article 34. Monitoring changes in forest area by forest status

1. Monitoring changes in forest area:

a) Natural forests and planted forests;

b) Forests on mountain soil, forests on rocky mountains, flooded forests, and forests on sand;

c) Timber forests, bamboo forests, mixed timber and bamboo forests, and palm coconut forests.

2. Monitoring changes in non-forest area:

a) Area of planted crops not yet forming a forest;

b) Area of encircled regeneration.

c) Other areas being used for forest protection and development.

Article 35. Monitoring changes in forest area by forest owner

1. Monitoring changes in forest area of forest owners as prescribed in Article 8 of the Forestry Law.

2. Monitoring changes in forest area managed by the People's Committee of communes.

Article 36. Monitoring changes in forest area by purpose of use

1. Monitoring special-purpose forests, including: national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, scenic protection areas, scientific research and experimental forests, national botanical gardens, national seedling forests.

2. Monitoring protective forests, including: headwater protective forests, community water source protection forests, border protective forests, windbreak and sand barrier forests, wave and coastal intrusion barrier forests.

3. Monitoring production forests.

Article 37. Monitoring changes in forest area by causes

1. Increase in forest area:

a) Forest planting;

b) Planted forests meeting criteria to become forests;

c) Encircled regeneration meeting criteria to become forests;

d) Other reasons.

2. Decrease in forest area:

a) Forest harvesting;

b) Illegal forest harvesting;

c) Forest fires;

d) Illegal deforestation and land occupation;

đ) Conversion of forest use purpose to other purposes;

e) Other reasons (forest pests and diseases, tornadoes, droughts, floods, landslides, snowstorms...).

Article 38. Results of monitoring forest changes

1. Maps of forest change results using VN2000 reference system at scale as prescribed by law on maps:

a) Commune level: minimum scale of 1/10,000;

b) District level: scale of 1/50,000;

c) Provincial level: scale of 1/100,000;

d) Nationwide: scale 1/1,000,000;

đ) Maps of group II forest owners: scale appropriate to corresponding area.

2. Summary tables for monitoring forest changes and non-forest areas of administrative levels and group II forest owners shall be carried out according to Tables 02, 03, 04 and Table 05 in Appendix IV attached to this Circular.

3. Management and storage of monitoring forest change results:

a) Data on monitoring forest change results (in paper and digital form) as prescribed in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article shall be managed and stored annually;

b) Paper data of commune level shall be managed and stored at the People's Committee of communes and Forest Protection Sub-department of districts; paper data of district level shall be managed and stored at the Forest Protection Sub-department of districts and Forest Protection Departments of provinces; paper data of provincial level shall be managed and stored at the Forest Protection Department of provinces, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; nationwide paper data shall be stored at the Forest Protection General Department;

c) Digital data shall be integrated into the database on the Forestry Information System located at the Forestry General Department, managed and stored at district, provincial and Forestry General Department levels.

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 39. Responsibilities of forest owners

Implement inventory, monitor forest changes, and cooperate with specialized agencies during implementation.

Article 40. Responsibilities of agencies

1. The General Department of Forestry:

a) Develop and organize the implementation of national forest survey and inventory projects and specialized survey projects;

b) Guide and inspect localities in implementing surveys, inventories, and monitoring forest changes; compile results of surveys, inventories, and monitoring forest changes and non-forest areas nationwide.

2. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Develop and organize the implementation of provincial forest survey and inventory projects;

b) Organize the implementation of forest change monitoring, report to the Provincial People's Committee for annual forest status announcement in the province and report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Guide, inspect, survey, inventory, and monitor forest changes in localities, compile results of surveys, inventories, and monitoring forest changes and non-forest areas at the provincial level.

3. Provincial Forest Protection Departments:

a) Organize deployment and provide professional guidance on inventory and monitoring forest changes for District Forest Protection Sub-departments and forest owners;

b) Directly implement the tasks prescribed in Clause 4 of this Article if no District Forest Protection Sub-department is established in the area;

c) Manage and store provincial forest files and databases.

4. District Forest Protection Sub-departments:

a) Guide and inspect the implementation of inventory and monitoring forest changes in the district;

b) Compile results of inventory and monitoring forest changes, report to the Provincial Forest Protection Department and the People's Committee of the district;

c) Manage and store district-level forest files and databases.

Article 41. Implementation Clauses

1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2019.

2. The following documents shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular comes into force:

a) Circular No. 25/2009/TT-BNNPTNT dated May 5, 2009 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on guiding the implementation of forest statistics, inventory, and management file establishment;

b) Circular No. 26/2017/TT-BNNPTNT dated November 15, 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stipulating the monitoring of forest dynamics and land planned for forest development.

3. In the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals shall promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for guidance and research on amendments and supplements.