Effective implementation of forest environmental service payment policy

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of September 3, 2014, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference to review 3 years of implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services. Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee attended and directed the conference.

According to the report of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, after 3 years of implementation, the total budget collected from forest environmental service establishments reached over 100 billion VND (as of July 2014). The disbursement result up to now is 28,666,762,000 VND. Of which, the revenue expenditure for 2012 and 2013 was 22,255,384,000 VND; the provisional expenditure for 2014 of the Hua Na and Cua Dat hydropower basins was 6,411,378,000 VND. Through the implementation of the forest environmental service payment policy, there have been positive impacts on all levels of sectors, localities and people, contributing to promoting forest protection and development. The situation of deforestation, encroachment on forest land, and illegal exploitation of forest products has decreased significantly. In 2011, the whole province had 1,366 violations in forest protection management, in 2012 there were 1,313 cases, in 2013 it decreased to 1,141 cases...

Conference overview

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong gave a speech at the conference.

In addition, many difficulties and shortcomings have been pointed out. These are related to the direction and organization of implementation; coordination between relevant departments, branches and localities; difficulties in policy mechanisms and unit prices;... In particular, up to now, the list of forest owners and forest areas in hydropower basins has not been determined and completed for approval by competent authorities; especially the area managed by the People's Committee of the commune, households, individuals and village communities (the area with approved documents has only reached nearly 90,000 ha/315,000 ha). This is the main reason for the slow disbursement.

Director of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, Mr. Nguyen Khac Lam read a report on 3 years of implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services.

The conference also gave time for representatives of districts, forest owners; representatives of units providing and using forest environmental services; and representatives of groups participating in forest protection to speak out. The opinions focused on raising practical issues arising from the grassroots and some recommendations and proposals for competent authorities to consider and resolve.

Awarding Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee to units with achievements in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services

Awarding Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee to individuals with achievements

On behalf of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong acknowledged the achievements and pointed out the shortcomings in the implementation of the forest environmental service payment policy. In order for this work to be better implemented in the coming time, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong requested relevant agencies to step up propaganda work, especially focusing on propaganda among the people, so that people can participate in better forest protection; Organize correct and sufficient collection and timely disbursement, ensuring compliance with regulations; The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to focus on directing and mobilizing human resources to review the boundaries and forest areas in the hydropower basins, complete the allocation dossiers for the Provincial People's Committee to approve, and move towards implementing the payment well. In addition, coordinate well with relevant departments, branches and sectors to resolve difficulties; Strengthen the inspection and examination of the implementation of forest environmental service payments; Clarify difficulties and obstacles from policy mechanisms so that the province can report to the government and central ministries and branches for consideration and adjustment...

On this occasion, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to organizations and individuals with achievements in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services.

Nhat Lan