Amendment of duties and powers of forest rangers in Vietnam from February 2, 2025

Amendment of duties and powers of forest rangers in Vietnam from February 2, 2025

The duties and powers of the Forest Rangers in Vietnam as stipulated in Article 7 of Decree 01/2019/ND-CP are amended as follows:

- When performing official duties, Forest Rangers must adhere to the assigned responsibilities, duties, and powers and be accountable for their execution according to the provisions of this Decree and the governing laws; they must wear uniforms, badges, forest ranger insignia, and name tags as stipulated.

- They may request relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals to provide information, documents, and evidence; inspect the scene and apply measures to prevent administrative violations according to legal regulations.

- Handle legal violations concerning forestry in accordance with the laws on administrative violations and criminal legal violations.

- They are equipped and permitted to use weapons, support tools, uniforms, vehicles, and specialized equipment as provided by law.

- Implement other assigned tasks and powers as stipulated by law.

Amendment to the regulation on the organization of forest rangers for special-use forests and protection forests in Vietnam

The regulation on the organization of forest rangers for special-use forests and protection forests in Vietnam in Article 7 of Decree 01/2019/ND-CP is amended as follows:

- The Special-Use Forest Ranger Unit and the Protection Forest Ranger Unit are administrative organizations under the Forest Ranger Department for special-use forests and protection forests managed by the Central Government, and under the Provincial Forest Ranger Sub-department for locally managed special-use forests and protection forests.

The Special-Use Forest Ranger Unit and the Protection Forest Ranger Unit have support divisions known as Forest Ranger Stations.

- Criteria for establishing the Special-Use Forest Ranger Unit and the Protection Forest Ranger Unit:

+ A Special-Use Forest Ranger Unit is established in a national park;

+ A Special-Use Forest Ranger Unit is established in a nature reserve or species-habitat protection area with an area of 15,000 hectares or more;

+ A Protection Forest Ranger Unit is established in headwater protection forests, windbreak shelter forests, sandbreak shelter forests, wave-blocking, and sea reclamation forests with an area of 20,000 hectares or more.

- Based on the criteria for establishing Special-Use and Protection Forest Ranger Units and the requirements, duties of forest management, and protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development decides to establish, reorganize, or dissolve Special-Use Forest Ranger Units and Protection Forest Ranger Units managed by the central government; the provincial People's Committee decides on those managed locally.

More details can be found in Decree 01/2019/ND-CP effective from February 2, 2025.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE