“In February 2025, units and forest owners must submit applications to liquidate planted forests damaged by storm Yagi.”

Specifically, in accordance with Clause 2, Article 6 of Government Decree No. 140/2024/ND-CP "Regulations on the liquidation of planted forests", the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 50/2024/NQ-HĐND "Regulations on the authority to decide on the liquidation of planted forests in Quang Ninh province". A reporter from the Provincial Media Center interviewed Mr. Vu Duy Van, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (pictured) , about the implementation of Resolution No. 50/2024/NQ-HĐND.

- Could you explain how Resolution No. 50/2024/NQ-HĐND has addressed the difficulties faced by organizations, localities, and businesses related to the liquidation of planted forests?

In September 2024, Typhoon Yagi struck the northern provinces of Vietnam, causing hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest to be felled, resulting in severe damage. In Quang Ninh province, 3,364.13 hectares of planted forest were damaged, mainly in forestry companies and protective forest management boards. These areas need to be cleared to recover state capital or cleared to allow for undergrowth removal and forest sanitation to prevent forest fires and quickly create space for reforestation, especially in upstream protective forests that provide water sources for irrigation reservoirs. While private individuals can decide how to handle their planted forests, such as clearing or selling the timber, forests under state management are subject to regulations on public asset management and the Forestry Law.

A large portion of the planted forest area of Hoanh Bo Forestry Company Limited was damaged by Typhoon Yagi.

Immediately after the Government issued Decree No. 140/2024/ND-CP to remove regulations on forest liquidation for planted forests funded by the state budget, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 50/2024/NQ-HĐND stipulating the authority to decide on the liquidation of planted forests in the province. The Resolution simplifies procedures and assigns the People's Committees at all levels the authority to decide on the liquidation of planted forests within their management scope and responsibilities according to the decentralization of authority. This helps reduce damage to planted forests caused by natural disasters, those that do not meet national standards for planted forests, and those that fail to meet the acceptance criteria after planting for forestry projects.

- How has the process of liquidating planted forests funded by the state budget progressed, sir?

According to the Resolution, the Provincial People's Committee decides on the liquidation of planted forests owned by the entire population for programs, projects, and scientific tasks invested by the province. The District People's Committee decides on the liquidation of planted forests owned by the entire population for programs, projects, and scientific tasks invested by the district.

To date, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has received one application for the liquidation of planted forests from Hoanh Bo Forestry One-Member Limited Company, with a total proposed liquidation area of 207.76 hectares of protective planted forest. The working group assisting the Forest Liquidation Appraisal Council has reviewed the application, verified the information, and inspected the planted forest site according to the liquidation request of Hoanh Bo Forestry One-Member Limited Company. In addition, it is expected that in February 2025, Tien Yen Forestry One-Member Limited Company will complete the liquidation application for 582.83 hectares of planted forest (227.53 hectares of protective planted forest, 355.3 hectares of production planted forest), ensuring compliance with legal regulations, and submit it to the Appraisal Council for compilation and reporting to the Provincial People's Committee for liquidation as prescribed.

A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected the damage in the Cao Van Lake protective forest area.

To expedite the liquidation of planted forests, on February 13, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to hear reports and direct the resolution of obstacles for forest owners. It also requested that units, forest owners, and localities urgently complete the procedures and documents for requesting the liquidation of planted forests damaged after Typhoon Yagi, focusing on units such as the Yen Lap Lake Protective Forest Management Board, Ba Che Forestry Company Limited, and Dong Trieu Forestry Company Limited. The Provincial People's Committee requested that units and forest owners complete and submit liquidation requests according to regulations within February 2025.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requests that units and localities continue to implement Plan No. 42/KH-UBND (dated February 11, 2025) of the Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of several key tasks to carry out Resolution No. 19-NQ/TU (dated November 28, 2021) of the Provincial Party Committee on sustainable forestry development in the province in 2025. The focus is on clearing damaged and fallen planted forests after Typhoon Yagi, planting 2,724 hectares of protective forests and 29,123 hectares of production forests in 2025, striving to ensure a forest cover rate of 42% and improving forest quality. This will ensure the effective implementation of comprehensive solutions for forest management and protection, forest use and development, and timber trade to promote sustainable forestry development coupled with green growth. Simultaneously, enhance the role and responsibility of all levels, sectors, organizations, individuals, and households in the management, protection, and sustainable development of forests, linking it with socio-economic development activities in the province.

Comment (0)