B.1. Transparent forest governance structures
In Viet Nam, forest governance refers to the system of laws, institutions, and processes through which the State, organizations, and communities manage and regulate forests. It includes the allocation and enforcement of forest rights and benefits, as well as planning, monitoring, and controlling activities related to forest protection and development
In Viet Nam, the Government unifies state management of forest protection and development. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is assigned the responsibility of being the focal agency to assist the Government in state management of forest protection and development (Article 101, Law on Forestry 2017). The Government regulates the organisation, tasks, and powers of specialized forestry management agencies from central to district level (Article 100, Law on Forestry 2017). People’s Committees at all levels also have a role in state management of forest protection and development in their localities.
Transparent national forest governance structures are defined in Viet Nam as being structures that fulfil essential requirements in terms of two key dimensions: access to information; and accountability/prevention and control of corruption.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (previously Ministry of Information and Communication) helps the Government to provide technical guidance on information preservation measures and processes and information management systems. The Ministry of Justice helps the Government generally monitor the implementation of the Law on Access to Information (2016). Ministries and ministerial-level agencies, based on their assigned functions and tasks, are responsible for performing tasks such as: promulgating according to their authority or recommending competent state agencies to promulgate, amend, supplement and perfecting laws on access to information; implement dissemination and education measures to raise awareness of the rights and responsibilities of agencies, units, officials, civil servants, public employees and citizens in exercising the right to access information; guide agencies, organizations, units, and citizens in exercising the right to access information; inspect and examine law enforcement and handle violations of the Law on Access to Information (2016).
The Government Inspectorate helps the Government inspect and examine the implementation of accountability of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under the Government and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities. Higher-level state agencies are responsible for inspecting and examining the implementation of accountability by lower-level state agencies. Heads of state agencies need to concretize the implementation of accountability in the agency's Internal Rules and Working Regulations in accordance with the functions, tasks, and powers of their agency and organize, direct, urge and inspect officials and civil servants under their management to strictly implement regulations on accountability and handle violations of regulations on accountability.
Responsibility for disseminating information related to REDD+ is stipulated in the National REDD+ Action Program (NRAP) and related guidelines. The Office of the State Steering Committee for Forest Protection and Development Program for the period 2021-2025 carries out communication work, raising awareness and sharing information at the national level. Departments for Agriculture and Environment (DAEs) help Provincial People’s Committees to conduct communication and education activities.
Viet Nam’s SIS is managed by the Ministry for Agriculture and Environment, which is also the national focal point for the Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System (