Pressure State and Impact Response

The general trend in the dynamics of forest resources for the years 2000 and after is to increase the forest cover at the annual rate varying from 1.5% to 1.8%.  This will be possible through effective realisation of the "Five million Hectares Reforestation Program" and constructive implementation of the policy of forestland allocation to real forest owners (households, other communities etc.). The annual rate of forest plantation is about 200,000 hectares and degraded forest to be allocated for enrichment is more than 300,000 hectares per year. The other reasons are, a timely correction in the planning process for plantation of forest and natural regeneration so that the site for these activities is properly selected, and silvicultural treatment and species composition is in compliance with environmental protection needs (watershed protection, conservation of biodiversity, biosphere, mitigation of negative impacts of air pollution, waste water, industrial wastes etc.). Concentrated forest plantations are to be given priority.

The National Assembly has approved many submissions of the Government in order to rationalise the forest land allocation policy, to get higher effectiveness in implementation of the policy, to clearly identify the interests and responsibilities of the forest owners, to concretely define goals and solutions for successful implementation of forest plantation and sustainable forest management projects, and to mobilise possibility of both the State and communities to increase the forest cover from 30% to 34% by the end of 2001, for the strategic period of sustainable  forest management 2001-2010 of new century.

Amend  the Land Law

Add more benefits for the people to whom forest land is allocated

Support the forest owners with new technology and technical measures to develop forest resources base of the country for benefit of the State and each household, as well as sustainable forest management.

Promote scientific and technical measures in forest plantation, natural regeneration, forest enrichment and enhance environmental protection functionality, as well as effectiveness of forests.

Shortcomings, difficulties and constraints yet to be overcome:

Lack of funds for forest plantation and natural regeneration projects by direct investment, credit for households and scientific and technical progress implementation.

Knowledge, capacity, manpower and means for forest protection activities are limited and short at all levels.

Participation of the communities in sustainable forest management is not sufficient, there are many constraints. Consciousness of communities in environmental protection is still at low level. Implementation of the Law on Forest Protection and Development is not strict.

Box 2.2. The forest plantation plan in 2001 In the first year of the new millennium (2001) it is important to realise the plan to establish 230,000 hectares and naturally regenerate 350,000 hectares in order to reach a forest cover of 34% from the year 2000 to 2001 (in the trend of 1.5 to 1.8% per year). The investment needed for realisation of this goal in the year 2001 is about 2,500 billion VND (approximately equivalent to US$ 200 million at the October 2000 price). The investment of the State may be only 40% of total needed funds, also mobilisation investment from population may be 7% and remaining 53% has yet to be raised. Increase forest cover rate to reach 40-42% in the year 2010 and overcome the ecological security threshold to protect the environment throughout the country is the Strategic Action Program for the Sustainable Development of the Nation.

 Forest owners community must be the main force in successful realisation of the goal to reach the forest cover rate, and promote active role in environmental protection of the forest. The State would manage and support a part of the investment fund, and apply scientific-technical solutions in forest plantation, natural regeneration and sustainable forest management.

System of national parks, natural reserves, biosphere reserves should be effective in sustainable protection and management of nature. 

Over half a century, Vietnam has lost about 5 million hectares of natural forests, the forest coverage fell to 28.8% of total land area.

Since 1986, the government has implemented some appropriate policies such as reform of state forest enterprises, allocation of forest lands to households and/or specific owners, forest plantation with clear purposes for owners and state, closure of national forests to stop exploitation of timber, increasing the number and size of natural forests, protected areas, and biosphere conservation areas, and especially the program of "Five million Hectares Reforestation Program" for increasing the forest cover to 42%.

Actively applied advanced technologies in forest plantation and natural forest management.

The change in forest cover since 1999 has shown an average annual growth of 1.2-1.8%. These are some initial results. However, there have also been many inadequacies. For example, the rate and extent of deforestation, considerable exploitation, forest plantation not meeting the requirements, use of fast growing exotic species for forest plantations with low effectiveness in term of environment.