Roles, Tasks and Responsibilities of the Department of Forestry, DOF (File No. 0355/MAF)

LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC PEACE INDEPENDENCE DEMOCRACY UNITY PROSPERITY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY File No. 0355/MAF ROLES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBIL~TY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY (DOF) On the basis of the Prime Minister's decree No. 84/PM dated 22/11/91 concerning the organization and activities of the Ministry of Agriculture and.Forestry (MAF). Minister of the MAF has determined the roles, authority and tasks of the DOF as follows: CHAPTE~ I BASIS AND ROU=S Article 1 The Department of Forestry is a Department to administer at macro level of the ForestiY sector, which have equivalent status as various Departments of the MAF. Article 2: The OOF has a role as a direct mensuration for the MAF to study, guide,plan,monitor, organize and administer at the macro level, by following the vertical line, concerning the Oevelopmen·~ forestry, forest industry, natural conservation and environment protection in all over the country, from the central to the local levels. * THE MAIN ROLES ARE: 2.1 To study and inspect the imp1ementat i on of strategies, policies, plans, laws and regulations related to organizing the administration and manag.emeAt of forestry allover the Cour1t,..~nd.. G~:i scat~ the Party and Government's course and "Faf policies such as 2. 1 • 1 To elaborate strategies for the long, medium and short term the development of forestry, forest 2.1. 2 2.1.3 indus~ry, natural conservation and environment protection. To organize and study· the legislation of appropriate rules, regulations and forestry laws wbich are suitable for the aims of forest fesource pr~tection, rehabilitation and goods production. To study, select and make use of the achievement of research in sc i ence arid forestry techno10gY"'in~he forest production in order to increase the forestry products. 2.1 .4 To tty to atta in cooperation according MAF, -'in order to development. i nt.e rrie t i ona1 support and to the ass i gnment from the strengthen the forestry Article 3: 2.2 To form and systematically upgrade the t.acnn t.ca t staff of forestry, forest industry I ·n~!t.l"a."l conservation, all fields of occupations in order to educate them to be actual forestry deve 1opers (personnel of development activities) who can grasp policies, know how to mObilize'and organize people in the forest protection and management activities. CHAPTER II TASKS AND AUTHORITY The main tasks: 3. 1 To plan and organ i ze the policies and strategies forestry, forest industry, environment protection. implementation of periodic on the administration of natural conservation and 3.2 To enhance the course, strategies and plans of the central Party and Government to be action plans, regulation and laws for the administration and management; and then submit to MAF for approval and put them into nationwide enforcement. Besides OOF also has task to control implementation of various decrees, laws concerning forestry, forest industry, natural conservation and environment protection, which havabeen carried out in OOF, different institutes, divls~ons, stati ons, project and other forestry enterpri ses and business units depending on MAF both at central and local levels. OOF has to pay attention tq investigate the gaps and contradictions occurring during the pr'ocass in order to correct them and find out solutions immediately; 3.3 To inspect the forest management, forestry products trade and implement policy on forest land use. 3.4 To scrutinize the inspection of forestry activities and other activities related to natural conservation. 3.5 To conduct the national rorest inventory, to be ·the base for sustainable utilization. 3.6 To be responsible for planning the management of production fore$~, protection forest, community forestry and forest reserv~; in order to formulate th~ official documents on utilization of forest land and forest products. These document will be bases for needed inspections. . 3. 7 To be respons i b1e for p1ann i ng manpower aeve 1opment, forestry train i ng, forest industry, natura 1 . .,and ~ .. env ironment conservat ion, and co 11ect i ng data on foresl:.ry and environmental activities. 3.8 To inspect the law enforcement, chasten, prosecute offenders against the forest management regulations and supo 1y of forest products. Pra i se and award the outstanding persons with good achievement in forestry, natural conservation and environment protection. 3.9 To administer variety of taxations and charges for forest products and forestland use. 3. 10 To study the deve 1opmen ts ; set up and imp rove the appropriate components of forest industry according to the utilizing capacity of raw material from forest resources in different parts and forest ranges. 3.11 To study Forest Act and make use of advantages of science and technologies in forestry and environmental activities to strengthen the forest protection, rehabilitation and forest production for merchandise. 3.12 To coordinata with the Personnel Department in assigning, delegating staff and implement policies and ensure their proper interests according to the policies designated by the Government. 3.13 To administer, monitor plans and utilize budgets. 3.14 To study plans and programmes for cooperation with foreign countries and International Organizations i nvo 1ved in forestry and env ironment accord i ng to I·th"e assignment and guidelines of MAF. Article 4: Authority 4.1 To study, propose to establish and abolish the Services, Divisions, projects depending on OaF supervision. 4.2 To study and propose the MAF to nomi nate, promote, transfer, deposition, chasten and award the heads of the Servi ces of the Department, the head of the Forestr-y Office sections in the provinces, municipalities'fNanvd Districts, the head of technicians, technical units, projects and .. the head of the Forest Ranges "and professional(high level) staff. Apart from the above-mentioned types of staff, it must be the ri ght of -OaF to deci de in order to meet the demandi ng situation, that is already mentioned in Article 3. 4.3. To request for approval from MAF to set up the forest 'producer associations, factories/plants which use wood as raw ·m-a.terial. To observe and administer performanc;3s4of these organizations. 4.4 .To inspect and scrutinize according to th~ roles and different Services, Technical industry and enterprises at levels. various fields of work tasks in connection to Units, projects, forest both central and local 4.5 To issue orders, regulations, instructions, and announcements concerning the forestry, forest industry~ for forestry sectors and other related sectors according to the roles and tasks assigned by MAF. 4.6 To inspect the ope rat i on of allowed 1ogg i ng, non-wood product extract ion, 1i cense for transmi ss i on of timber and wood products as we11 as forest products for the purpose of export accord i ng to the po 1icy, quota and defined conditions from MAF. 4.7 To inspect all actions and activities within the fores~ land, wood industry factories as well as similar places, which officers suspected that there is wrong action or offence against regulations and Forest Act. 4.8 To scrutinize and certify and give license for transmission and sale of local forestry products, according to the plans of MAF. 4.9 To certifY.delivery/origin and state of being free from disease for the technically checked wildlife and non-wood products. 4.10 To confiscate the legal matters, fine halt the actions and to put on trial the offenders ( i.e persons, business units and organfza·tions ) 4. 11 To arrange a widerange of tenders to sell sta:nd i ng. trees, logs, wood and non~wood products. in order to make optimum income for the S:tate; in case there. i e an agreement between MAF, Ministry of Commerce and Flnance. 4.12 To try to acquire assistance and cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations according to the assignment and guidelines fromMAF. CHAPTER III GUIDANCE, ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE AND ASSISTING WHEEL OF DoF Article 5: Technical guidance: The DoF comprises of 1 Director and 2 Deputy Directors wh i ch are nomi nated by the Mini ster, on the bas is of defined conscience and technical standards. The Di rector and Deputy 0 i rectors have funct ions to assist the Minister and Vice Ministers in administering and conduct i ng forestry work, natura 1 and envi ronment conservations. The Dire6tor is directly responsible f9r (oversee) all the achievements, failures, shortcomings or mistakes in the DoF work. The vice Directors can be heads of any of Sections in DoF. Article 6: Organization structure * The organization structure of the DoF is drawn up as follows. 6.1 The Administration Section has main tasks to manage personnels, study org~nization structure., work; ns systems and methods for di fferEHlt Sections in order to match the situation, roles and tasks of each sections. To assi gn and award staff. in order to increase work efficiency. To direct/ guide the formation and training of staff; to organize and be responsible for the secretarial work, ceremonies, archives,. dail~ admi ni strat ion, safety guard and sari i tary wi th; n DoF offices, vehicles, equipments, materials and others appliances in DOF. 6.2 The Finance, Planning and Cooperation Section has main functions to elaborate and make synthesis. of plans for for.stry development, natural and environment protection and financial plans for forestry sector;' to observe, inspect and check income a~d expenditure ,from budget; to contact- for cooperation with international organizations, neighbour countries and NGO's iri:.order to get assi stance and cooperat ion accordi'ng to the assignment and guidelines from MAF. To evaluate and follow up the accomplishment of different projects in order to report to MAF regularly. 6.3 The Technical Administration Section. has main tasks to enhance the Government and Party' oS policies to be' norms, regulations and laws. To inspect· and contro 1 the imp1ementat i on of decrees, announcemeD~, laws and regulations within forestry sector. To study and guide the utili.zation of science and technology in forestry activities. 6.4 Apart from the different Sections within OaF, which are called the Macro level, the OaF also has various Micro technical units which function as the implementers , . accordingly to its own organizational lines such as . Inventory and Forest Management Planning Division, Forest P~otection Oivision,Natural Conservation .nd Watershed Management Division, Shifting Cultivation Stabilization Project, Forest Plantation Project, Wood and non-wood products industry Project. All improvement, amendment of the organization structure both in the OaF and the 1oca1 1eve 1 fu rther than that already mentioned in this document, it must propose to the MAF for consideration. CHAPTER IV WORKING METHODS Article 7: The OaF operates its tasks on the basis of the following principles: 7.1 To preserve the one-head system, on the basis of centralized democracy. Leading in group at all levels; there shoul d be defi n i te di vi s i on of work scope and reasonable and proper delegation for making decision within each levels and individual. 7.2 All act ivi ties of OaF wi 11 be executed in accordance wi th the strategies, course, plans and general policies of the Government concerning the agriculture and forestry; and regard them ( strateg i es .. ) as' gu ide 1i nesl directions. And implement the long term and yearly plans and periodic plans by tackl ing with the actio: plans of the MAF concerning the Forest and fore9t industry Development, natural and environment ~onservation as starting point for all activities. DOF has to create the projects and a w~de range of activities in order to effect i ve 1y enhance and strengthen the above mentioned plans of the MAF. 7.3 To administer at the macro level, the DoF has to monitor, inspect and regularly encourage all forestry activities at provincial, municipal ity and district levels, technical and forest business units and all kinds of industries which use forest products as raw material, and belong to different types of qwnership through out the country .. 7.4 To preserve-the meet i ng, inspect i ng and report i ng systems such as the week 1y meet i ng and discuss i on among the Directors, 'lice Directors, heads and Deputy Heads of Sections, projects in order to fol low up and evaluate all carried out activities, draw up experie~ce, develop the highlight of achievement and immediately treat the failures, and regularly report to the Leading Group of MAF. CHAPTER VI THE LAST ISSUES Article 8: DoF of the MAF has its specific stamp for official use; concerning the specific stamps for the Divisions and Projects, Forestry Offices in the different provinces, district and other technical units, the DoF has to study and propose them to get them approved by MAF. Article 9: This prescription of roles, tasks and responsibility of the Department of Fores~ry is valid and enforced from the date of its signature. Any contradictions from the earlier prescription have to be cancelled. Vientiane, dated 22/05/1992 Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Stamped and signed) Sisawath KEOBOUNPHANH