Decision No. 2284/QD-TTg of December 13, 2010, approving the Scheme on implementation of the Government's Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP of September 24, 2010, on the policy on payment for forest environment services

DECISION

APPROVING THE SCHEME ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECREE NO. 99/2010/ND-CP OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, ON THE POLICY ON PAYMENT FOR FOREST ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 99/ 2010/ND-CP of September 24, 2010, on the policy on payment for forest environment services;
At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Scheme on implementation of the Government's Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP of September 24. 2010, on the policy on payment for forest environment services, with the following principal contents:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

- To work out specific contents and measures to expeditiously implement the policy on payment for forest environment services in reality, meeting the needs of forestry workers in forested and mountainous areas.

- To properly implement the policy on socialization   of   forest   protection   and development work, strongly and thoroughly allocate forest land and assign and contract forest use rights in a stable and permanent manner to organizations, households and village communities; to create conditions for more effective management, protection and utilization of forest resources and forest land resources.

- To contribute to ensuring harmony and balance of the living environment: to conserve biodiversity; to prevent and limit adverse impacts of natural disasters (flood, drought, soil erosion, desertification, carbon sequestration and retention, air environment pollution; greenhouse gas emissions; climate change, etc.).

2. Requirements

a/ To disseminate and thoroughly study the Government's Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP anions; concerned agencies, organizations and individuals, especially those having obligations and powers directly related to the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services;

b/ To clearly define responsibilities and mobilize contributions of concerned agencies, organizations and individuals in the implementation of Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP, especially users of forest environment services;

c/ in the course of implementation, to determine appropriate methods and ways; to rely on the people, discuss with the people and assure publicity for the people's examination and voluntary implementation;

d/ To expeditiously, promptly and effectively implement the Decree in accordance with law.

II. TASKS

1. To popularize, disseminate, thoroughly study and raise public awareness about the policy on payment for forest environment services, especially among those with obligations and powers directly related to the policy implementation.

2. To elaborate and promulgate legal documents guiding the Decree implementation in a timely manner and facilitate such implementation in localities.

3. To formulate, approve and implement schemes and projects related to the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services; to develop mechanisms for the creation of financial sources and payment for forest environment services under Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP.

4. To closely coordinate with concerned state agencies, organizations and individuals in the Decree implementation according to assigned tasks.

5. To examine and supervise the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services in localities in order to ensure publicity, transparency and equity.

III. SOLUTIONS

1. Organizational solutions

a/ At central level

To assign the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to act as the focal point to organize the Scheme implementation.

b/ At provincial level

- To set up provincial-level steering committees for the Decree implementation, each consisting of a leader of the provincial-level People's Committee as chairman and representatives of the leaders of the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance; Planning and Investment; Natural Resources and Environment; Industry and Trade; Information and Communications: and Culture, Sports and Tourism.

- Provincial-level People's Committees shall promulgate operation regulations for provincial-level steering committees for the Decree implementation.

2. Solutions for publicity and awareness raising

To carry out activities of propaganda, education and raising of awareness and responsibility for making payment for forest environment services among different levels, sectors, localities, businesses and population.

3. Solutions for resources

a/ To mobilize resources from state agencies, organizations and individuals at home and abroad for the Decree implementation.

b/ To train in technical and professional knowledge and skills and organize study lours for officers of local state agencies (particularly at district and commune levels) to carry out assigned activities.

4. Solutions for science and technology

a/ To use the river basin master plan as the basis for identifying forest areas, and liable payers and payees of money for forest environment services in each basin;

b/ To use the outcomes of the general census on forests during 2010-2015 as a database for the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services;

c/ To apply information technology to building appropriate databases and advanced software  for managing,  monitoring  and supervising the payment for forest environment services in each province and nationwide;

d/ To study, develop and apply the hydrological observation model to monitoring the quality of forest environment services: soil erosion and sedimentation; regulation of water sources, etc.. for the supply of water for hydropower plants and water supply plants, as a basis for the payment for and monitoring of the quality of forest environment services;

e/ To continue studies to determine the values of a number of services as a basis for supplementing and perfecting the policy on payment for forest environment services.

5. International cooperation

To mobilize financial and technical assistance and learn experiences from other countries, international organizations and individuals at home and abroad for implementing the policy on payment for forest environment services.

IV. MAJOR ACTIVITIES

1. Popularizing, disseminating, studying and raising public awareness about the policy on payment for forest environment services

a/ Organizing a conference to publicize and study the Decree on the policy on payment for forest environment services among civil servants and public employees of concerned agencies for the Decree implementation.

- Implementation time: December 2010.

- Implementing agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and provincial-level People's Committees.

b/ Holding training courses on the formulation of schemes and projects for the Decree implementation in a number of selected localities.

- Implementation time: January 2011.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

c/ Propagandizing, educating and raising public awareness about the policy on payment for forest environment services in appropriate forms.

- Implementation time: 2011-2012.

- Implementing agencies: Ministry of Information and Communications and provincial-level People's Committees.

2. Elaborating and promulgating legal documents of ministerial and provincial levels to guide the Decree implementation

a/ Elaborating and promulgating a circular guiding a number of articles of Decree No. 99/ 2010/ND-CP

- Completion time: June 2011.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

b/ Elaborating and promulgating a joint circular guiding the principles and methods of identifying forest areas in river basins to serve the payment for forest environment services.

- Completion time: December 2011.

- Implementing agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development assuming the prime responsibility and collaborating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

c/ Elaborating and promulgating a circular guiding the determination of coefficient K.

- Completion time: December 2011.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

d/ Elaborating and promulgating documents guiding the determination of coefficient K and stipulating payers and levels and methods of payment by providers of tourism services based on forest eco-systems. for application within provinces.

- Implementation time: December 2011.

- Implementing agencies: provincial-level People's Committees.

e/ Elaborating and promulgating a joint circular on a mechanism for managing and using money paid for forest environment services; and the order and procedures for testing the payment of money for forest environment services.

- Completion time: December 2011.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Finance.

3. Elaborating and submitting to the Prime Minister for promulgation documents pertaining to the implementation of Decree No. 99/2010/ ND-CP

a/ Prime Minister decisions

- Stipulating payers and levels and methods of payment for the service of carbon sequestration and retention of forests.

- Stipulating payers and levels and methods of payment for the services of providing spawning grounds, sources of food and natural seeds and use of water sources from forests for aquaculture.

- Stipulating payers and levels and methods of payment by industrial production establishments using water directly from water sources.

- Stipulating levels of payment for forest environment services by hydropower plants with energy accumulation systems.

b/ Implementation time: 2012.

c/ Implementing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

4. Reviewing and perfecting mechanisms and policies on forest land allocation and lease

a/ Implementation time: 2011-2012.

c/ Implementing agency: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

5. Formulating and approving schemes and projects related to the Decree implementation in localities

a/ Implementation time: December 2011.

b/ Implementing agencies: provincial-level People's Committees.

6. Inspecting, supervising and preliminarily reviewing the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services

a/ Inspecting and supervising

- Implementation time: on a regular basis.

- Implementing agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and provincial-level People's Committees.

b/ Preliminarily reviewing the policy implementation

- Implementation time: at the end of 2013.

- Implementing agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and provincial-level People's Committees.

V. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Project implementation schedule

a/ In 2011

- To concentrate on activities of propagandizing, disseminating, studying and training; elaborating and promulgating ministerial-level and provincial-level legal documents guiding the Decree implementation; formulating and approving provincial-level schemes and projects related to the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services.

- To list provinces and regions eligible for priority implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services in 2011.

b/ From2012on

- To implement schemes and projects and effect the payment of money for forest environment services for providers under the Decree;

- To elaborate and submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation legal documents mentioned in the Decree.

2. Project implementation funds

a/ Funds for the project implementation shall be allocated from the state budget and mobilized from organizations and individuals at home and abroad.

b/ Funds for project activities implemented by ministries and branches shall be allocated from the central state budget. Based on project activities, ministries and branches shall make detailed fund estimates and send them to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and approval.

c/ Funds for the project implementation in localities shall be allocated from local budgets. Based on project activities to be implemented in their localities, provincial-level Agriculture and Rural Development Departments shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with provincial-level Finance Departments in. making fund estimates and submitting them to provincial-level People's Committees for decision.

In addition, project implementation funds are also allocated under Article 15 of Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP.

3. Implementation responsibilities

a/ Ministries and central branches

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

+ To act as the focal point for implementing the Scheme; annually, to make fund estimates based on its assigned activities and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and approval.

+ To make and approve plans of action to implement the Scheme.

+ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in, guiding localities in working out plans, schemes and projects under Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP.

+ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned agencies in determining forest areas in basins with forest environment services in two or more provinces and/or centrally run cities.

+ To inspect and supervise ministries, branches and localities in implementing Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP.

+ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in mobilizing financial, scientific and technical resources from organizations and individuals at home and abroad for the Decree implementation.

+ To make annual reports to the Prime Minister on the Decree implementation.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

+ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and concerned ministries and branches in. reviewing and making proposals for perfecting mechanisms and policies on forest land allocation and lease to promote the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services.

+ To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in drafting legal documents guiding the Decree implementation and carrying out related activities under its state management.

- The Ministry of Information and Communications

To guide and direct news and press agencies in raising awareness and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and people in protecting and developing forests and implementing the policy on payment for forest environment services.

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment

To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in drafting legal documents guiding the implementation of the Decree and carrying out related activities under its state management.

- The Ministry of Finance

+ To guide ministries, branches and localities in drawing up fund estimates for the Scheme implementation under the Law on the State Budget and relevant legal documents.

+ To consider, approve and allocate funds for ministries and branches to implement the Scheme under law.

+ To coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in drafting legal documents guiding the implementation of the Decree and carrying out related activities under its state management.

- Other concerned ministries and branches

+ Within the ambit of their respective state management functions and tasks, to proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in implementing the Decree.

+ To direct and examine their attached units in the process of implementing the Decree.

b/ Provincial-level People's Committees

- To set up provincial-level steering committees for the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environment services.

- To elaborate and approve plans of action for the Scheme implementation in localities.

- To propagate and disseminate the policy on payment for forest environment services.

- To direct the formulation, approval and implementation of schemes and projects related to the Decree implementation.

- To determine forest areas in the basins in which forest environment services are provided within the administrative boundaries of their respective provinces; to identify liable payers and payees of money for forest environment services in each basin.

- To set up the Forest Protection and Development Fund under the Government's Decree No. 05/2008/ND-CP of January 14, 2008 (when having sufficient conditions).

- To coordinate with related ministries and branches in directing and examining the payment of money for forest environment services by organizations and individuals in their respective localities under the Decree.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees shall implement this Decision.-