05 Restricted activities within coastal area protection corridors in Vietnam

05 Restricted activities within coastal area protection corridors in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What coastal area protection corridors?

Article 23 of the Law on natural resources and environment of sea and islands 2015 stipulates coastal area protection corridors as follows:

- Coastal area protection corridor is a littoral strip established in the areas in need of protection to maintain service value of ecosystem and natural landscape in littoral zones, maximize coastal land slides, cope with climate change and rising sea; ensure people’ rights to access to sea.

- Establishment of coastal area protection corridors must comply with the following principles:

+ Base oneself on requirements, objectives of the establishment of coastal area protection corridors as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

+ Ensure scientificity, objectivity and harmony between requirements for protection and development with due account taken of current conditions of exploitation and use of natural resources in shoreline areas; preserve and bring into play value of cultural heritages; ensure feasibility and conformity with actual conditions in local administrative division;

+ Accord with regulations on dikes and dike maintenance, sea borders; ensure National defense and security;

+ Define borderlines of coastal area protection corridors in the areas with corridors being established;

+ Ensure interests of the State, lawful rights and benefits of relevant organizations and individuals; ensure public disclosure, transparency and participation of residential communities, relevant organizations and individuals in the areas with corridors established; ensure people’s rights to access to sea.

- Width of coastal area protection corridors is calculated from average height of tides over years to the mainland or inside the island.

- People’s committees of central-affiliated coast cities and provinces shall rely on actual circumstances in local administrative divisions as prescribed in this Article to organize establishment, announcement of coastal area protection corridors within management.

2. 05 Restricted activities within coastal area protection corridors in Vietnam

According to Article 25 of the Law on natural resources and environment of sea and islands 2015, within coastal area protection corridors, the following activities are restricted:

(1) Exploit underground water;

(2) Carry out land reclamation;

(3) Renovate constructed works;

(4) Carry out survey of minerals, oil and gas;

(5) Activities of production, trading and services likely to degrade ecosystem, value of service of ecosystem and natural landscapes;

3. 06 Prohibited acts within coastal area protection corridors in Vietnam

According to Article 24 of the Law on natural resources and environment of sea and islands 2015, Prohibited acts within coastal area protection corridors include:

(1) Mineral extraction unless otherwise as approved by the Prime Minister;

(2) Establish new constructions and expand construction works except the works used for protection of National defense and security, prevention and fighting against natural disaster and coastal land slides, coping with climate change, rising sea, preserving and bringing into play value of cultural heritages and other construction works serving interests of the nation, communities decided to invest by the National Assembly, Government, the Prime Minister, heads of ministries, central agencies, People’s Council, People’s committees of central-affiliated coastal cities and provinces.

(3) Construct cemeteries and landfills;

(4) Activities of drilling, excavation, and backfilling within coastal area protection corridors except activities as prescribed in Article 25 hereof;

(5) Illegal transgression and use of coastal area protection corridors;

(6) Activities that cause coastal landslide, degrade ecosystem, value of service of ecosystem and natural landscapes;

Ngoc Nhi

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