Resolution No. 08/1997/QH10 on establishment of 5 million HA of new forest

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Independence – Freedom - Happiness No. 08/1997 QH10 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 2nd Session (From 21/11/1997 to 12/12/1997) RESOLUTION ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FIVE MILLION HECTARES OF NEW FOREST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF�THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Based on the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Based on Resolution No. 05/1997/QH10 of the �2'd Session of the 10th National Assembly regarding Criteria for important national projects to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and final decision for investment Based on project presentation No. 399 KTN dated 17 November 1997 of the Government; appraisal report No.44/KHCNMT dated 20/11/1997 of the Committee of Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly, and comments of the National Assembly members on establishment of five million hectares of new forests. DECIDES Article1 The establishment of five million hectares of new forest is an important national project. It is planned to establish five million hectares of new forest in the period 1998 to 2010 with the following objectives: To speed up forest plantation; regreen bare land, protect existing forests as well as new forests; increase the protective function of the forests and protect the environment and biodiversity; create favorable conditions for sustainable national development; and increase the forest cover to 40% of the national territory; To create raw material areas needed for development of forest product processing industry; To create employment, increase incomes for local people thus contributing to hunger elimination and poverty reduction; develop production and create conditions for secure livelihood, and ensure national defense and security. Article 2 The Government is assigned the duty to implement the project. This is a large scale project which is mainly implemented in hilly and mountainous areas. The Government is requested to take the following issues into account: Review Programme 327, Programme 773, and previous forest plantation activities in order to draw lessons for the project. Make a plan to mobilize all sources of funds, applying suitable methodologies and policies for mobilization of domestic resources, manage strictly the resources and avoid losses. Set up a relevant management organization to implement the project effectively. Complete the decentralization of.�State Management so that responsibilities and rights are clearly defined; enhance the role of local administration, chiefly at communal level in the field of management, protection, enrichment, new planting and forest development. Renew, supplement and complement policies on: • allocation of land and forest; + food security for forest growers and protectors; + shifting cultivation; + tax exemption; + incentives for different economic sectors involved in forest establishment; + means to attract foreign investment to forest development. Increase the protection of existing forests and new plantations Promote the application of advanced science and technologies in selection and production of forest seeds, in methods for forest establishment, and in forest product processing. Every year, the Government reports to the National Assembly about implementation of the project. Article 3 This Resolution becomes effective when approved by the National Assembly. This Resolution has been passed by the 2nd Session of the 10"I' National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on 5 December 1997. CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (Signed) NONG DUC MANH