Improving the efficiency of collecting and disbursing forest environmental service fees.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of February 22nd, the Provincial People's Committee held a working session with the Forest Protection and Development Fund Management Council to evaluate activities in 2013 and implement tasks for 2014. Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired the meeting.

Overview of the working session

After two years of establishment, the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund is gradually stabilizing its operations, contributing to better implementation of State policies on forest protection and development. In 2013, the amount of entrusted funds collected from hydropower and clean water facilities through the Fund reached nearly 35 billion VND, achieving 108% of the plan; and 1.034 billion VND in mandatory contributions were collected from businesses converting forest land use. The Fund disbursed nearly 12 billion VND to three forest owners and developed a project to review and determine the scope, boundaries, and current status of forests of forest owners providing forest environmental services for the period 2013-2015, with consideration up to 2020.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, reported on the results of implementation in 2013.

However, the disbursement of advance payments to forest owners under the management of the commune People's Committee, individual households, and village communities has not yet been implemented. The 2011 back payments from the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant have not been disbursed promptly, and the review of boundaries, watershed area, forest type, and forest status is progressing slowly... The Fund's leadership presented the difficulties in paying for forest environmental services, citing a lack of information from investors and inadequacies in policies regarding the determination of contracted forest protection rates across different forest watersheds...

Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, delivered a speech.

In his concluding remarks, Comrade Dinh Viet Hong acknowledged the achievements of the Fund after two years of operation. However, he noted that the Fund's management over the past year has been somewhat disorganized, the results of payments for forest environmental services have not been high, and many shortcomings and deficiencies still exist. Furthermore, coordination among agencies has been poor, and the responsibility of members of the Fund's Council has been limited.

To improve the Fund's operational efficiency, Comrade Dinh Viet Hong suggested that the Fund should develop a revenue and expenditure plan for 2014, which would be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development before being submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. The Fund needs to closely adhere to government regulations and effectively carry out its professional duties. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development should take the lead, coordinating with relevant units to review and supplement relevant documents to better suit the practical situation, and advise on the revenue and expenditure plan to improve efficiency and contribute to the effective implementation of forest protection and development policies in the future.

Pham Bang