Directive No. 88/2006/CT-BNN on Strengthening the Application of Information Technology in the Forest Protection Force

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening the Application of Information Technology in the Forest Protection Force

Information technology has particular importance for activities under state management. In recent times, the Party and State have issued many legal documents to promote the development of information technology to serve the industrialization and modernization of the country.

On October 17, 2000, the Political Bureau issued Directive No. 58/CT-TW on intensifying the application and development of information technology to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization; on May 24, 2001, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 81/2001/QD-TTg approving the action program to implement Directive No. 58/CT-TW; on June 17, 2002, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 2242/QĐ-BNN/KH approving the strategy for developing the application of information technology to serve the Ministry's state management work during the period from 2001 to 2010.

To strengthen the application of information technology in the field of state management of forest protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the national Forest Protection Force to immediately organize the implementation of the following tasks:

1. Focus on applying database software

a) Statistical report software to manage the activities of the Forest Protection Force;

b) Software to monitor forest and forestry land dynamics (in accordance with Directive No. 32/2000/CT-BNN-KL dated March 27, 2000 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development) to update forest and forestry land changes annually;

c) Daily forest fire warning software to be broadcast on mass media;

d) Fire-prone area zoning software to take measures to guide forest fire prevention and firefighting work at the local level;

đ) Software to manage violations of the Law on Forest Protection and Development;

e) Other related database software for forest protection work.

2. Apply GIS technology and high-resolution remote sensing images

Intensify the application of GIS technology and high-resolution remote sensing images to effectively manage village-level forest status maps at a scale of 1/10,000. Use the topographic base and map projection based on the results of the 2005 land survey that have been digitized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

3. Develop a project to enhance information technology capacity

Provincial Forest Protection Inspection Bureaus shall develop a project to enhance the application of information technology and submit it to the provincial People's Committee for approval. The project must clearly define objectives, activity outcomes, and completion time with the following contents:

a) Equip computers, A4 printers, GPS positioning devices, and digital cameras for Forest Protection Stations, Forest Management Protection Departments, Inspection and Legal Affairs Departments, and Mobile Forest Protection Teams;

b) Install broadband internet (ADSL) at the Provincial Forest Protection Inspection Bureau Office and Forest Protection Stations to exchange information over the internet;

c) Upgrade existing database software to meet usage requirements;

d) For areas that have established forest and forestry land monitoring databases according to Directive 32/2000/CT-BNN-KL, the following actions should be taken:

- Convert the currently used UTM HN72 map projection system to the VN2000 system and edit village-level forest status maps at a scale of 1/10,000;

- Upgrade the forest and forestry land monitoring database based on the results of the three types of forest reviews conducted by the locality and published;

đ) Install the database and train staff at the Provincial Forest Protection Inspection Bureau Office and Forest Protection Stations to become proficient in using the aforementioned database software.

Request the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to direct relevant sectors and levels at the localities to allocate funds for the application of information technology to serve forest protection work in their annual plans.

4. Responsibilities of the Forest Protection General Department

a) Guide the establishment of databases; the application of GIS technology and the use of high-resolution remote sensing images to update village-level forest status maps according to unified procedures and standards throughout the Forest Protection Force;

b) Guide the conversion of the currently used UTM HN72 map projection system in the Forest Protection Force to the VN2000 system and guide the editing of village-level forest status maps at a scale of 1/10,000;

c) Regularly inspect, supervise, and evaluate the quality of databases implemented by the Forest Protection Inspection Bureaus;

d) Annually organize training on the application of information technology for the entire national Forest Protection Force.