D2.1.1. Policies, laws and regulations related to participation in REDD+
Viet Nam’s legal framework recognizes the importance of ensuring public participation, including in the context of environmental and biodiversity protection, forest development as well as in the elaboration of land-use plans, and more broadly in socio-economic development planning.
The Constitution (2013) and relevant laws recognise the right of citizens to participate in the management of the State. The Law on Implementation of Grassroots Democracy (2022)[1] defines the requirements for effective participation of all citizens for implementing grassroots democracy . The Law on Promulgation of Normative Legal Documents (2015)[2] also requires public consultation during the formulation of legislative documents.
Under the Law on Forestry (2017)[3] , forest sector planning is required to be participatory and democratic, ensuring transparency and gender equality, and the participation of ethnic minorities and local communities. Local people, ethnic minorities and communities must be enabled in the management, protection and development of all forest categories under the Law on Forestry (2017). Both the Sustainable Forest Development Strategy (2021-2030), and the Sustainable Forest Development Program for the period 2021-2025 emphasize the role of local households and communities in managing, protecting and developing forests.[4]
The Law on Environmental Protection (2020) also requires participation of local people and communities that are directly affected by investment projects in the consultation processes for environment impact assessment (EIA).[5]
Under the Law on Land (2024), consultations are required to be organized by agencies in charge of master plans and plans on land use (Article 70). The legal framework supporting equal participation of all genders includes the Law on Gender Equality (2006)[6], the National Strategy on Gender Equality in 2021-2030 period.[7] More information on policies, laws and regulations on gender equality is provided under SIS B2.4.
[1] Law No. 10/2022/QH15 dated November 10, 2022, on Implementation of Grassroots Democracy Law
[2] Law No. 80/2015/QH13 and Law No. 63/2020/QH14 on revising and supplementing some articles of Law No. 80/2015/QH13 on Promulgation of Normative Legal Documents Law
[3] Article 10 and Clause 4, Article 3, Law on Forestry (2017)
[4] Decision 523/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2021 on Sustainable Forest Development Strategy in 2021-2030 period; Decision 809/QD-TTg dated July 12, 2021 on Program on Sustainable Forest Development in 2021-2025 period
[5] Article 33, Law on Environmental Protection (2020)
[6] Law on Gender Equality (2006)
[7] Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP dated March 3, 2021 on National strategy for gender equality in 2021-2030 period