Decision No. 940/QD-TTg approving the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Viet Nam through 2020

60 Decision No. 940/QD-TTg of July 19, 2012,approving theurgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam through 2020 THE PRIME MINISTER Pursuant to the December 25,2001 Law on Organization of the Gavernment; Pursuant to the December 3, 2004 Law on Forest Protection and Development; Pursuant to the November 26, 2003 Land Law; Pursuant to the Government :\' Decree No. 23/2006/ND-CP of March 3, 2006, on the Issue nos 03-04/July 20ll (Gong Bao1M 467-4681July 31,2(12) implementation ofthe Law on Forest Protection and Development; Pursuant to the Prime Minister \ Decision No. 7331QD-7Tg ofMay 16,2006, approving the urgent action plan for eleph an t conservation in Vietnam through 2010: At the proposal ofthe Minister of.Agricultuf(~ and Rural Development, DECIDES: Article I. To approve the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam through 2020 with the following principal contents: 1. Title: Urgent action plan for elephant Issue nos 03-04/.July 20t2 (Gong BaD nos467-468JJuly 31,20/2) conservation in Vietnam through 2020. 2. Objectives: aJ Overall objectives: To conserve and sustainably develop the current population of wild and domestic elephants in Vietnam, at the same time to sustainably conserve the habitat in which elephants live. d! Targets: To prevent the declining number of elephants, ensuring that at least 3 areas inhabited by elephants will be conserved and developed in the 21 st century. To mitigate conflicts between elephants and humans in areas with elephant distribution. .~ To conserve and deve lop the population of domestic elephants in Oak Lak province. To enhance public information work for protecting the habitat in which elephants live. To boost transnational conservation cooperation. 3. Elephant conservation aJ To further implement the project to conserve the permanent habitats of elephants in Dak Lak, Dong Nai and Nghe An provinces which satisfy sustainable elephant conservation requirements in terms of size of herd, habitat and area of living. b/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall set UIJ a Steel illg Conuni ttee for the urgent action plan for elephant conservation in Vietnam through 2020; and elaborate an overall plan for elephant 61 conservation through 2020. cJ To organize in-situ conservation of elephants with small population, creating opportunities to the utmost for elephants to live permanently. To consider moving them to other places when all efforts fail. To mitigate potential conflicts in areas with elephant distribution and detail plans to implement specific solutions for each area. d! To make management dossiers and tag electronic chips to domestic elephants to strictly supervise elephant protection; to study the reproduction of domestic elephants so as to conserve and develop the current domestic elephant number; to bui ld and develop a center for elephant conservation in Oak Lak province as a basis for research and conservation of domestic elephants. eJ To deploy a campaign for raismg awareness about elephant conservation for communities in elephant-inhabited areas, fJ To increase effectiveness of law implementation, particularly in transbordcr provinces and effectively prevent the hunting and trading in elephants and their products through border gates. 4. Funding sources Funds for implementation of the action plan for elephant conservation include: State budget funds for the forest protection and development plan during 2011-2020; Funds from domestic and overseas organizations and individuals; Other legal funding sources. 62 5. Organization of implementation aJ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and localities in. elaborating a plan on elephant conservation in Vietnam during 2011-2020, and submit it to Prime Minister for consideration and decision. b/The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the MilliMl y or Finance :shall balance and ensure funds for implementation of the contents provided in this Decision. Issue nos 03-04/July 2012 (Cong Bcio nos 467468/Juldf, 20U) Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. Article 3, The mnusters of Agriculture and Rural Development; Planning and Investment; Finance; and Natural Resources and Environment, and heads of related agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees shall implement this Decision For the Prime Minister Deputy Minister HOANG TRUNCi HAl