Decree No. 73/2006/NQ-QH11 On Adjusting Targets and Tasks of the Project to Plant New Forests on 5 Million Ha from 2006 to 2010

RESOLUTION

On adjusting the targets and tasks of the project to plant new forests on 5 million hectares during the period from 2006 to 2010

5 million hectares of forest planting project during the period 2006-2010

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THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Pursuant to Article 84 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam promulgated in 1992, amended and supplemented by Resolution No. 51/2001/QH 10 dated December 25, 2001 of the 10th Session of the 10th National Assembly;

Pursuant to the Law on the Supervisory Activities of the National Assembly;

Based on the consideration of the Government's Report, the Supervisory Report of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Summary of the Opinions of the Electors and the Opinions of the Deputies at the 10th Session of the 11th National Assembly regarding the Project to Plant New Forests on 5 Million Hectares.

RESOLUTION:

Article 1. The project to plant new forests on 5 million hectares has been implemented for 8 years and achieved some results. However, during the implementation of the project, there are still some shortcomings that need to be promptly addressed, namely: the work of preparation, organization, and supervision has not been adequately directed, causing delays in the project schedule, low economic efficiency, and affecting the tasks set out by the project. These shortcomings need to be seriously reviewed and lessons learned by the Government, all levels, and sectors to continue directing the implementation of the project's goals effectively.

Article 2. Adjusting the targets and tasks of the project during the period from 2006 to 2010 as follows:

1. Effectively protect the entire existing forest area, especially natural forests, including entrusting the protection of protective forests and special-use forests with an annual area of 1.5 million hectares.

2. Planting new forests on 1,000,000 hectares, including 250,000 hectares of protective forests and special-use forests (an average of 50,000 hectares annually) and 750,000 hectares of production forests (an average of 150,000 hectares annually).

3. Encircling and promoting the regeneration of protective forests and special-use forests on 803,000 hectares, including encircling and promoting the continuation of 403,000 hectares and encircling and promoting new areas of 400,000 hectares.

4. The total estimated investment capital is 14,653 billion VND, of which the state budget capital is 4,515 billion VND, and the loan and other capital for production forest planting is 9,000 billion VND (with attached annexes).

5. After completing the adjusted targets and tasks for the period from 2006 to 2010, the Government will continue to allocate funds and manage the program for protecting and developing forests under the national target program mechanism to achieve the goal of planting new forests on 5 million hectares.

Article 3. The National Assembly assigns the Government:

1. To strictly direct the Ministries, sectors, and localities to implement well the adjusted targets and tasks of the project during the period from 2006 to 2010.

2. To promptly complete the review of detailed planning for each type of forest area during the period from 2006 to 2010; calculate the national forest coverage requirements to ensure ecological safety, protective functions, and environmental protection; implement measures to enrich natural forests, particularly poor-quality forests, by planting high-yield forest species.

3. To accelerate the progress of land allocation, forest allocation, issuance of certificates of land use rights and forest use rights to households, individuals, and economic components, and community forest use rights; reorganize and reform state-owned forestry enterprises into strong economic units to develop forestry.

4. To adjust investment policies and preferential credit mechanisms to promote the development of production forests based on wood demand calculations; have policies to encourage investment in wood processing and forest product industries, reduce forest product circulation costs, and adjust investment rates for forest protection, encirclement and promotion of regeneration, planting of new protective and special-use forests, and production forests to ensure flexible application by localities for specific projects. Have benefit-sharing mechanisms suitable for forest protection and development and ensure part of the food supply for forest workers in economically disadvantaged areas, headwater regions of rivers, and large hydropower and irrigation works.

5. To ensure focused and unified direction, strengthen coordination, clearly define the responsibilities of state management of the Ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees; delegate more power to local authorities and emphasize the role of the people in organizing the implementation of the Project..

6. To actively prevent and promptly and strictly handle cases of waste, loss, corruption, and actions causing damage to forest resources.

7. To report annually to the National Assembly on the implementation of the project.

Article 4. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Science, Technology, and Environment Committee, the Ethnic Council, and other Committees of the National Assembly, and the Delegations of the National Assembly will supervise the implementation of the project.

This Resolution was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the 11th term, the 10th session, on November 29, 2006.