Guidance on Preparation, comments, assessment, approval and adjustment of national forest planning in Vietnam

Periods and contents of forestry planning in Vietnam in 2024​ (Image from the Internet)

1. Rules and bases for preparing forestry planning in Vietnam

Article 10 of the Law on Forestry 2017 stipulates the rules and bases for preparing planning in Vietnam as follows:

- The formulation of forestry planning must comply with the principles of the law on planning and the following principles:

+ Conformity with the national overall planning, national land use planning, national forestry development strategy, and national biodiversity strategy;

+ Ensure sustainable forest management; exploit and use forests in conjunction with the conservation of natural resources, enhancement of the economic value of forests, and cultural and historical values; environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and improvement of local livelihoods;

+ Natural forests must be included in the planning of special-use forests, protection forests, and production forests;

+ Ensure the participation of agencies, organizations, households, individuals, and community residents; ensure transparency, equality, and gender equality;

+ The content regarding forestry in provincial planning must conform to the national-level forestry planning content.

- The formulation of forestry planning must comply with the basis of the law on planning and the following bases:

+ National-level forestry planning must be based on the national overall planning, national land use planning, and national forestry development strategy;

+ The content regarding forestry in provincial planning must be based on the national-level forestry planning;

+ Natural, socio-economic conditions and resources of the nation or particularly the locality.

2. Periods and contents of forestry planning in Vietnam in 2024

Article 11 of the Law on Forestry 2017 stipulates the periods and contents of forestry planning in Vietnam as follows:

- The period of national-level forestry planning is 10 years; with a vision of 30 to 50 years.

- The content of forestry planning must comply with legal regulations on planning and include the following contents:

+ Collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data on natural conditions, socio-economic status, the current state of forest resources; development orientations, related planning; evaluating development resources and issues that need to be addressed;

+ Evaluating the implementation of previous forestry planning regarding forest management, protection, development; processing and trading forest products; investment, science and technology, labor;

+ Forecasting the demand and market for forest products, forest environmental services, the impact of climate change, scientific and technical advancements, and technological progress applied in forestry;

+ Researching the context, inter-industry linkages; determining the socio-economic development requirements for the industry;

+ Identifying viewpoints and goals for forestry development;

+ Orientation for sustainable development of special-use forests, protection forests, and production forests;

+ Orientation for the development of forestry infrastructure;

+ Orientation for market development, raw material areas, forest product processing;

+ Solutions and resources for the organization and implementation of the planning.

3. Guidance on Preparation, comments, assessment, approval and adjustment of national forest planning in Vietnam

According to Article 12 of the Law on Forestry 2017, the guidance on preparation, comments, assessment, approval and adjustment of national forest planning in Vietnam is as follows:

- The responsibilities for organizing national-level forestry planning are stipulated as follows:

+ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for organizing the formulation of national-level forestry planning;

+ Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial People's Committees cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the formulation of national-level forestry planning.

- The collection of opinions on national-level forestry planning is conducted as follows:

+ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes the collection of opinions from relevant state agencies, organizations, households, individuals, and communities; summarizes, considers, and explains the feedback on national-level forestry planning;

+ The collection of opinions on national-level forestry planning is conducted publicly through electronic information portals, mass media; sending written requests for opinions; organizing conferences and seminars;

+ The period for collecting opinions is 60 days from the date the competent state agency decides to organize the collection of opinions.

- The appraisal of national-level forestry planning is stipulated as follows:

+ The Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam establishes the National-Level Forestry Planning Appraisal Council;

+ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development serves as the standing agency of the National-Level Forestry Planning Appraisal Council;

+ The National-Level Forestry Planning Appraisal Council organizes the appraisal and sends the appraisal results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for considering and explaining the appraisal contents;

+ The appraisal content includes conformity with the national overall planning, national forestry development strategy, national land use planning; practicality, resources, needs, and the ability to use forests to meet sustainable development requirements; socio-economic and environmental effectiveness; feasibility of the planning.

- The Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam approves the national-level forestry planning as proposed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The adjustments of national-level forestry planning are stipulated as follows:

+ National-level forestry planning is adjusted when there are changes in the national overall planning, national land use planning, national forestry development strategy that significantly impact the forestry planning content stipulated in Clause 2, Article 11 of the Law on Forestry 2017;

+ The appraisal and approval of the adjustment of national-level forestry planning are conducted according to the provisions of Clauses 3 and 4, Article 12 of the Law on Forestry 2017.

- The formulation, collection of opinions, appraisal, approval, and adjustment of national-level forestry planning are conducted according to the provisions of the Law on Forestry 2017 and the law on planning.

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