Monitoring land allocation, forest allocation, payment for forest environmental services in Dien Bien Dong district

Comrade Ly Thi Phuong Dien, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council concluded the working session with the People's Committee of Dien Bien Dong district.

Up to now, Dien Bien Dong district has allocated 20,034.9 hectares of forested forestry land, and 6,489.0 hectares have not been allocated. For non-forested forestry land, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has appraised and approved the measurement plots of 14 communes and towns with a total area of 25,217.44 hectares (reaching 94% according to Document No. 435/UBND-TN dated January 29, 2024 of the Provincial People's Committee on adjusting the implementation volume of Plan No. 2783/KH-UBND dated September 20, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee); currently completing the dossiers for land allocation, forest allocation, and issuance of certificates. There are no cases of forests being allocated but not yet allocated land, leased forestry land, or not yet granted land use right certificates.

Currently, most forest owners receiving forest environmental services in the district have commented that the level of forest environmental services payment is still very low, not commensurate with the effort of patrolling and protecting the forest. Therefore, there are still some forest owners who do not register an account or do not come to receive the money directly when the Forest Protection and Development Fund comes to pay the money locally. The district still has an annual unpaid forest environmental services amounting to more than 225 million VND, because some forest owners are households, individuals or members of the Representative Group receiving money from community forest owners who go to work abroad; there are cases where forest owners are in prison, there are cases where they have died, but because the payment amount is low, relatives and families do not carry out the related procedures to receive the forest environmental services.

Working group No. 1 monitors in Tia Dinh commune.

Dien Bien Dong district proposed that the province consider allocating funds for land surveying for 5 communes: Hang Lia, Tia Dinh, Pu Hong, Phinh Giang, Xa Dung that have not been surveyed. Propose that the Provincial People's Committee consider increasing the forest protection contract level and the payment level for forest environmental services because the current payment level is too low, so people do not agree with receiving land and forest allocation. For forestry land without forest, propose that the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development give opinions and direct the issuance of land use right certificates for an area of about 14,504.6 hectares under the planning of land use other than forest land to carry out the next steps to ensure regulations. In addition, adjust the time for land allocation, forest allocation, and issuance of forest land use right certificates until the end of 2024.

On behalf of the monitoring team, comrade Ly Thi Phuong Dien suggested that in the coming time, Dien Bien Dong district should continue to propagate to people to understand their rights and responsibilities in forest management and protection. It is necessary to select a consulting unit with capacity and qualifications to carry out the measurement content, and complete the dossier to ensure the issuance of forest land use right certificates. From there, there will be enough basis to pay for forest environmental services. The recommendations of the district and the monitoring team will synthesize and recommend to relevant levels and sectors for consideration.

The working group has monitored a number of communities in Tia Dinh 1 and 2 villages (Tia Dinh commune) and individuals and organizations in Dien Bien Dong town.

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