Decision No. 79/2007/QD-TTg Approves the "National Action Plan on Biodiversity to 2010 and Orientation to 2020 for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety"

Pursuant to …;

Approving the "National Action Plan on Biodiversity to 2010 and Orientation to 2020 for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety"and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety"

PRIME MINISTER

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

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law dated November 29, 2005.

CONSIDERING THE PROPOSAL OF THE MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the "National Action Plan on Biodiversity to 2010 and Orientation to 2020 for Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety" (hereinafter referred to as the National Action Plan) with the following main contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. Specific objectives from now until 2010:

a) Conservation and development of terrestrial biodiversity:

- Consolidate, complete, and develop the system of special-use forests (contributing to achieving a forest coverage rate of 42-43%);

- Restore 50% of the area of degraded headwater forests;

- Effectively protect endangered species of animals and plants at risk of extinction;

- Three nature reserves recognized as world natural heritage sites or biosphere reserves and five nature reserves recognized as ASEAN heritage sites.

b) Conservation and development of biodiversity in wetlands and marine areas:

- Increase the total area of internationally and nationally important wetland and marine conservation areas to over 1.2 million hectares;

- Restore 200,000 hectares of mangrove forests;

- Establish five (05) wetland areas meeting the criteria and conditions to be recognized as internationally important wetland areas (Ramsar sites).

c) Conservation and development of agricultural biodiversity:

Announce and complete the system of conservation to effectively conserve local, valuable, and rare agricultural plant and animal breeds and microorganisms of high economic and social value.

d) Sustainable use of biological resources:

- Develop models of sustainable use of biological resources; control, prevent, stop, and eliminate the exploitation, trade, and consumption of rare and endangered wild animals and plants;

- Control, assess, and prevent invasive alien species;

- Inspect 100% of imported biological species, varieties, and genetic sources.

đ) Strengthen state management capacity for biodiversity and biosafety:

- Improve and strengthen the state management capacity for the organizational system, especially for the national focal agencies and competent authorities within the system for biodiversity and biosafety, to meet the management needs for these two fields;

- Develop and complete the system of mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents for managing biodiversity and biosafety;

- Enhance technical infrastructure, focusing on training and building a cadre capable of meeting professional requirements for conservation and development of biodiversity and management of biosafety;

- Promote education and raise public awareness about the conservation, development, and sustainable use of biodiversity; strive to have more than 50% of the population regularly access information on biodiversity, biosafety, and participate in opinions on issuing biosafety certificates;

- Ensure that all genetically modified organisms and products derived from them circulating in the market have been assessed for risks in Vietnam, labeled, and monitored according to the law.

2. Orientation to 2020:

a) Conserve, develop, and sustainably use the rich genetic resources, species, and ecosystems of Vietnam; manage biosafety effectively to protect people's health, the environment, and biodiversity; make substantial contributions to the conservation and development of biodiversity in the region and globally; fully implement international commitments on biodiversity and biosafety to which Vietnam is a member;

b) Complete the organizational system, mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents for managing biodiversity and biosafety in the country;

c) Complete the system of nature reserves (on land, wetlands, and marine areas); restore 50% of destroyed unique and sensitive natural ecosystems;

1. Creating and developing high technology in agriculture

1. Conservation and development of terrestrial biodiversity:

a) Establish a unified classification system for special-use forests; implement reviews, planning, and development of the special-use forest system; implement sustainable forest management models;

b) Continue to effectively implement the New Forest Planting Project of 5 million hectares (as per Resolution No. 73/2006/QH11 dated November 29, 2006, of the 11th session, 10th meeting on adjusting targets and tasks of the New Forest Planting Project of 5 million hectares), particularly focusing on degraded headwater forests and sensitive ecosystems;

c) Establish and nominate nature reserves meeting the criteria for recognition as world natural heritage sites, biosphere reserves, and ASEAN heritage sites;

d) Apply ecosystem-based approaches in biodiversity conservation; establish biodiversity corridors between protected areas and suitable agro-biodiversity conservation practices in Vietnam;

đ) Plan and implement a translocation conservation system across eight territorial regions (Northeast, Northwest, Red River Delta, North Central Coast, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast, and Southwest) according to the plan;

e) Develop translocation conservation methods, particularly for endemic, rare, and valuable species; focus on breeding and cultivating some rare and valuable species of high economic and social value;

g) Identify critically endangered species at risk of extinction for planned translocation conservation.

2. Conservation and development of biodiversity in wetlands and marine areas:

a) Establish, develop, and manage systems of wetland and marine conservation areas:

- Develop and implement national and provincial strategies, plans, and integrated coastal zone management programs;

- Develop and implement zoning plans for wetland and marine conservation areas, paying particular attention to functional zones and buffer zones; develop and implement conservation plans for each area;

- Survey, document, and propose recognition of internationally important wetland areas (Ramsar sites).

b) Restore and develop wetland and marine ecosystems:

- Restore and develop important coral reefs and seagrass beds;

- Investigate and assess the current status of mangrove forests; develop and implement plans to restore and develop coastal mangrove forests that are important for protection purposes;

- Restore wetland ecosystems in areas vulnerable to environmental damage.

3. Conserve and develop agricultural biodiversity:

a) Investigate, inventory, and evaluate crop, livestock, and agricultural microorganism genetic resources;

b) Develop and implement programs to conserve and develop agricultural biodiversity;

c) Develop and implement models to conserve and develop rare and valuable indigenous plant and animal species;

d) Apply advanced technologies, particularly biotechnology, to conserve and develop agricultural biodiversity.

4. Sustainable use of biological resources:

a) Sustainable use of timber and non-timber forest products:

- Inventory, assess the current status, harvest, and use of timber and non-timber forest products, focusing on medicinal plants and ornamental trees; apply advanced technology to process forest products to increase their value and conserve natural resources;

- Develop and implement Action Plans to conserve and sustainably develop non-timber forest products;

- Develop, implement, evaluate, and promote the application of sustainable development models for non-timber forest products;

- Research, apply, and develop traditional local knowledge, especially regarding medicinal plants and traditional non-timber forest product processing crafts.

b) Sustainable use of wetland and marine resources:

- Apply prudent methods to protect and utilize important international and national wetlands;

- Develop and implement integrated resource management models for wetlands and the sea that are suitable with local community customs;

- Establish monitoring networks for resources, environment, and biodiversity in important wetland and marine areas.

c) Prevent, control, and strictly handle illegal exploitation, trade, and use of biological resources:

- Strictly control and handle severely the illegal exploitation, trade, and use of biological resources, particularly wild animals, timber, and corals;

- Eliminate destructive resource exploitation methods and the destruction of sensitive ecosystems;

- Implement comprehensive measures to control the trade of rare, endangered species at high risk of extinction.

d) Manage and strictly control invasive alien species:

- Survey and compile statistics on invasive alien species;

- Develop and implement strategies to prevent, control invasive alien species, and address incidents caused by them.

đ) Develop eco-tourism:

- Investigate, assess potential, and plan a nationwide eco-tourism network;

- Develop eco-tourism models in some nature reserves and national parks, prioritizing Cat Ba, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, Cat Tien, Phú Quốc, and Can Gio Nature Reserve;

- Propose and implement effective solutions to minimize negative impacts of tourism on biodiversity.

5. Strengthen state management capacity on biodiversity and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), GMO products, and goods to effectively protect public health, the environment, and biodiversity:

a) Unify state management over biodiversity and biosafety concerning GMOs and GMO products and goods. Improve and strengthen state management capacity for the organizational system, especially for the national focal agency and competent agencies within the system for biodiversity and biosafety. Enhance the capacity of state management officials for biodiversity and biosafety;

b) Develop, promulgate, and perfect the system of mechanisms, policies, and legal regulations on biodiversity management, where conservation of biodiversity must be thoroughly considered when approving economic and social development plans and projects;

c) Develop, promulgate, and perfect the system of mechanisms, policies, and legal regulations on GMO biosafety management;

d) Build and enhance capabilities, both in technical infrastructure and human resource training, for scientific research in modern biotechnology and biosafety; research to create, use, and safely manage GMOs, GMO products, and goods. Research scientific and technological solutions to serve biodiversity conservation and development and biosafety; study and successfully apply advanced scientific and technological solutions to serve biodiversity conservation and development and biosafety;

đ) Develop, upgrade, perfect, license operations, and effectively put into use systems of laboratories, including national key laboratories capable of analyzing, assessing risks, and accurately identifying GMOs and GMO products and goods;

e) Develop, operate, and unify management of databases and information on biodiversity and biosafety;

g) Develop and put into use the Biosafety Clearing-House Information Exchange Center.

III. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. Improve organization and strengthen the capacity of state management agencies for biodiversity and biosafety; perfect the system of mechanisms, policies, and legal regulations on biodiversity and biosafety management:

a) Strengthening the organizational structure and enhancing the capacity of the national administrative management system, particularly for the lead national agency and agencies with authority within the system on biodiversity and biosafety, to meet the management needs of these two areas;

b) Reviewing, building, amending, supplementing, and perfecting the institutional mechanisms, policies, and regulatory legal documents to effectively manage the fields of biodiversity and biosafety;

c) Establishing inter-ministerial and inter-regional coordination mechanisms to coordinate the activities of sectors and localities in managing biodiversity and biosafety;

d) Delegating authority and supporting localities in managing biodiversity and biosafety;

đ) Integrating contents related to biodiversity and biosafety into strategies, plans, programs, and projects for socio-economic development in accordance with sustainable development orientations;

2. Applying scientific and technological solutions to conserve, develop, and sustainably utilize biological resources:

a) Enhancing basic research on biological resources, focusing on researching the biological and ecological characteristics of endemic and rare species and special, sensitive ecosystems;

b) Promoting research and technology transfer to accurately detect and identify genetically modified organisms, products, and goods derived from genetically modified organisms; analyzing, assessing risks, and managing biosafety for genetically modified organisms;

3. Enhancing propaganda, education, and raising public awareness to share information and actively participate in protecting biodiversity and managing biosafety:

a) Enhancing propaganda, education, raising public awareness about conserving, developing, and sustainably utilizing biological resources; vigorously promoting mass movements to protect biodiversity; organizing regular communication programs and training courses on biodiversity and biosafety;

b) Ensuring the rights and participation of communities in the process of reviewing policies, strategies, plans, programs, and investment projects related to natural conservation areas and decisions on biosafety;

c) Diversifying models of community-based management, development, and sustainable utilization of biodiversity; promoting the tradition of harmony with nature;

4. Strengthening and diversifying sources of investment for biodiversity and biosafety:

a) Ensuring funding for biodiversity conservation from the state budget, prioritizing direct investment in conservation, development, and management activities;

b) Creating favorable mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest and transfer technology to serve conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and biosafety management;

c) Applying economic tools in biodiversity management such as taxes and fees for exploitation and use of natural resources, environmental service fees, conservation funds;

d) Integrating contents on conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and biosafety management into priority areas of funding such as poverty alleviation, health care, and rural development;

5. Strengthening international cooperation on biodiversity and biosafety:

a) Strengthening cooperation with ASEAN countries in establishing information systems, databases, forums, and networks for exchanging experiences on conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and biosafety;

b) Promoting cross-border biodiversity conservation activities;

c) Actively participating in and implementing international and regional conventions and activities on biodiversity and biosafety;

d) Diversifying bilateral and multilateral cooperation forms with countries, international and regional organizations on biodiversity conservation and biosafety, focusing on experience and expert exchanges;

đ) Enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation in training, technology transfer, and technical advisory services on biodiversity and biosafety;

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) As the lead national agency implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, it has the responsibility to take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to effectively implement the contents of the National Action Plan in accordance with the schedule, and report results annually to the Prime Minister;

b) Taking the lead in implementing the contents of the National Action Plan related to the functions, tasks, and authorities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Leading the drafting, approval, or submission to competent authorities for approval and implementation of the following contents:

- Project to strengthen the organizational system for state management of biodiversity and biosafety;

- Project to enhance biosafety management capacity for genetically modified organisms and products, goods derived from genetically modified organisms;

- Plan to prevent and control invasive alien species;

- Program for propaganda, education, and raising public awareness on biodiversity and biosafety;

- Project to build a database and information sharing system on biodiversity and biosafety;

- Biodiversity action program suitable for different regions: Northeast, Northwest, Red River Delta, North Central Coast, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast, and Southwest;

c) The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall establish an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee chaired by the Minister to organize the implementation of the National Action Plan. The composition and operational rules of the Steering Committee and its Office shall be decided by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, who also serves as the Chairman;

2. Ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Science and Technology, Education and Training, Culture and Information, Trade, Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Finance, Vietnam Tourism Administration, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology: based on their functions, tasks, and authorities, they have the responsibility to effectively implement the relevant contents in the National Action Plan;

3. Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Financeshall be responsible for balancing, allocating, and guiding the use of funds to effectively implement, on schedule, the contents of the National Action Plan.

4. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities: shall be responsible for properly implementing the contents related to their locality within the National Action Plan, particularly in developing and implementing biodiversity action plans for regions and localities with high biodiversity.

Article 2. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall be responsible for guiding and organizing the effective implementation, on schedule, of the contents of the "National Action Plan on Biodiversity until 2010 and orientations until 2020 for the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety".

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

THE MINISTERS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL MINISTRIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL AGENCIES, AND CHAIRMEN OF PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THIS DECISION./.