Update on regulations for forest planting acceptance, investment support for production forest planting, and development of non-timber forest products in Vietnam from January 27, 2025

Update on regulations for forest planting acceptance, investment support for production forest planting, and development of non-timber forest products in Vietnam from January 27, 2025

Circular 24/2024/TT-BNNPTNT has amended and supplemented the regulations in Chapter III, including Article 11 of Circular 15/2019/TT-BNNPTNT concerning the acceptance of afforestation, investment support for production afforestation, and the development of non-timber forest products as follows:

(1) Timing, composition, dossier, and acceptance results

- For afforestation investment, it is carried out according to the provisions at Clause 1, Article 10 of Circular 15/2019/TT-BNNPTNT.

- For investment support for production afforestation and the development of non-timber forest products, it is carried out according to the provisions at Clause 2, Article 10 of Circular 15/2019/TT-BNNPTNT.

(2) Acceptance items for afforestation investment include: vegetation treatment; land preparation; pit filling, fertilizing (if any); afforestation; forest care; other items such as firebreaks according to the approved design dossier and estimates.

(3) Acceptance criteria: Implemented according to the provisions in Section I, Appendix IIA issued together with Circular 15/2019/TT-BNNPTNT.

(4) Method of area acceptance: Field inspection to determine boundary positions, comparison with design maps, or identify areas by direct measurement methods or using alternative methods as regulated.

(5) Method of quality acceptance

- For concentrated monoculture plantations: Establish random standard plots with a minimum area of 100 m^2^ on a representative line or establish standard plots according to the system of plantation plot, with the minimum number of standard plots regulated as follows:

Plot area under 1 ha: 3 standard plots;

Plot area from 1 to under 3 ha: 10 standard plots;

Plot area from 3 to under 5 ha: 15 standard plots;

Plot area of 5 ha or more: 20 standard plots.

- For concentrated mixed plantations: Establish random standard plots with a minimum area of 500 m^2^ on a representative line or establish standard plots according to the system of plantation plot, with the minimum number of standard plots regulated as follows (*):

Plot area under 3 ha: 3 standard plots;

Plot area from 3 to under 5 ha: 5 standard plots;

Plot area of 5 ha or more: 10 standard plots.

- For strip-mixed plantations: Use a random sampling method to inspect at least 10% of the plantation strips in the plot; count the number of trees on the entire plantation strip. If the number of strips in the plot is less than 10, at least 1 plantation strip must be inspected.

- For cluster-mixed plantations: Use a random sampling method to inspect at least 10% of the plantation clusters in the plot. If the plantation cluster area is less than 1,000 m^2^, count the number of trees on the entire plantation cluster. If the plantation cluster area is larger than 1,000 m^2^, establish standard plots as regulated at (*). If there are fewer than 10 plantation clusters in the plot, at least 1 plantation cluster must be inspected.

More details can be found in Circular 24/2024/TT-BNNPTNT, effective from January 27, 2025.

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