Decision No. 57/2005/QD-TTg On Adjusting the Boundaries of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve, Ben Tre Province

Pursuant to …;

Adjusting the boundaries of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve, Ben Tre Province.

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 dated August 12, 1991;

Based on the Land Law dated November 26, 2003;

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Circular No. 156/BNN-KL dated January 20, 2005).

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the adjustment of the boundaries of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve, Ben Tre Province, including the following contents:

1. Objectives and tasks of the boundary adjustment:

The planning to adjust the boundaries of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve aims to ensure the important function of the Nature Reserve, which is to protect the coastal mangrove area at the mouth of the Mekong River, conserve unique values regarding biodiversity and natural geomorphological features of the wetland area as a national ecological model, while ensuring the natural evolution process of the geomorphology and hydrology of the Co Chieng estuary.

Creating favorable conditions for the management and protection of the Nature Reserve and land use planning for buffer zone communes.

Arranging stable residential clusters within the Nature Reserve to minimize human activities that negatively impact the forest, while creating opportunities for economic and social development, cultural education, improving the material and spiritual life of the people in the region, and providing conditions for implementing local socio-economic programs.

2. Location and geographic coordinates of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve after adjustment:

- Geographic location: Located in the territories of An Dien, Thanh Phong, and Thanh Hai communes, Thanh Phu district, Ben Tre province.

- Geographic coordinates:

- Northernmost point (Cu Canal flowing into Ham Luong River):

9⁰57'40" North latitude, 106⁰32'58" East longitude.

- Southernmost point (Eo Lon Canal flowing into Co Chieng River):

9⁰50'05" North latitude, 106⁰32'56" East longitude.

3. The area of Thanh Phu Nature Reserve after adjustment is: 2,584 hectares.

4. Functional zones are as follows:

- Strictly protected zone: Area of 668 hectares, comprising Sections 1b; 2b; 5; 6 and 8b of Sub-zone 19.

- Ecological restoration zone I: Area of 527 hectares, comprising Section 1 (Sub-zones 12 and 13), Section 3a (Sub-zone 14), Section 2b (Sub-zone 15), Sections 2a; 3a; 4a (Sub-zone 16), Section 2a (Sub-zone 18), and Section 8a (Sub-zone 19).

- Ecological restoration zone II: Area of 1,137.3 hectares, comprising Section 2 (Sub-zone 12), Section 1a (Sub-zone 14), Sections 1; 3b; 4b (Sub-zone 16), Section 1 (Sub-zone 18), Sections 1a; 2a; 3c; 3d and 4 (Sub-zone 19).

- Administrative and service zone: Area of 251.7 hectares, comprising Sections 2a, 2b2, and 3c (Sub-zone 15).

Article 2. The Chairman of the People's Committee of Ben Tre Province shall direct the implementation of the boundary adjustment of the aforementioned Nature Reserve in accordance with current regulations.

Article 3. Implementation clause.

This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The Ministers of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Technology, heads of relevant agencies, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ben Tre Province are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.