Effectively implement the policy on payment for forest environmental services.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of September 3, 2014, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference to review the first three years of implementing the policy on payment for forest environmental services. Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, attended and chaired the conference.
According to the Forest Protection and Development Fund's report, after three years of implementation, the total revenue collected from forest environmental service facilities reached over 100 billion VND (as of July 2014). Disbursement to date is 28,666,762,000 VND. Of this, 22,255,384,000 VND was spent from revenue in 2012 and 2013, and 6,411,378,000 VND was disbursed as an advance payment for 2014 from the Hua Na and Cua Dat hydropower basins. Through the implementation of the forest environmental service payment policy, positive impacts have been made on all levels of government, localities, and the people, contributing to the promotion of forest protection and development. Deforestation, encroachment on forest land, and illegal logging have significantly decreased. In 2011, the entire province experienced 1,366 violations in forest management and protection; in 2012, this number decreased to 1,313; and in 2013, it further reduced to 1,141 cases...
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| Overview of the conference |
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| Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong delivered a speech at the conference. |
In addition, many difficulties and shortcomings have been highlighted. These include issues related to the direction and organization of implementation; coordination among relevant departments, agencies, and localities; obstacles in policies and pricing mechanisms; etc. Particularly, to date, the list of forest owners and forest areas within hydropower basins has not been fully identified and compiled for approval by competent authorities; especially the area managed by commune People's Committees, households, individuals, and village communities (the area with approved dossiers has only reached nearly 90,000 hectares out of 315,000 hectares). This is the main reason for the slow disbursement of funds.
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| Mr. Nguyen Khac Lam, Director of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, read a report on the three-year implementation of the policy on payment for forest environmental services. |
The conference also provided time for representatives from districts and forest owners; representatives from units providing and using forest environmental services; and representatives from groups involved in forest protection to express their opinions. The opinions focused on practical issues arising from the grassroots level and included several recommendations and proposals for the competent authorities to consider and resolve.
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| The Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to units with outstanding achievements in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services. |
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| The Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to individuals with outstanding achievements. |
On behalf of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong acknowledged the achievements made while also pointing out shortcomings and limitations in the implementation of the forest environmental service payment policy. To improve this work in the future, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong requested that relevant agencies strengthen communication efforts, especially focusing on raising public awareness to encourage better participation in forest protection; ensure accurate and complete collection and timely disbursement in accordance with regulations; the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development should focus on directing and mobilizing personnel to review the boundaries and area of forests in the watersheds of hydropower plants, complete the contract allocation dossiers for approval by the Provincial People's Committee, and ultimately implement the payment process effectively. In addition, good coordination with relevant departments and agencies is needed to resolve difficulties; strengthen inspection and monitoring of the implementation of forest environmental service payments; and clarify difficulties and obstacles arising from policies and mechanisms so that the province can report to the Government and central ministries and agencies for consideration and adjustment.
On this occasion, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to organizations and individuals who have achieved outstanding results in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services.
Nhat Lan
