F2. Actions to address the risks of reversals
The National Assembly makes decisions on changing the ‘’use purpose’’ of special use forests (SUFs) and protection forests of 50 hectares (ha) or more, and of production forests of 1,000 ha or more. The Prime Minister decides on changing the use purpose of SUFs of less than 50 ha, protection forests from 20 ha to less than 500 ha, and production forests from 50 ha to less than 1,000 ha. The Provincial People's Committee is responsible for approving use purpose changes for protection forests under 20 ha and production forests under 50 ha.[1]
The National Assembly is responsible for approving and amending national land use master plan submitted by the Government, Government is responsible for approving national land use plan, including forestry land (special use, protection, and production forest land).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) (previously Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment - MONRE), is responsible for chairing and assisting the government in developing national land use master plans, national land use plan.[2]
MAE is responsible for developing the national forestry master plan (including any changes to the three registered forest types) and submitting it to the Government. MAE also leads: the coordination of forest surveys; organizing fire forest prevention and protection; guidance and monitoring on forestry type changes and changing forest use purpose; monitoring legal violations on forests.[3]
Viet Nam Administration Forestry (VNFOREST) under MAE has responsibility to manage and implement legal regulations on forest; organize and implement tasks on forest fire prevention and fighting; investigate forests; inventory forests, monitor forest developments; allocate forests, lease forests, reclaim forests, and change forest use purposes to other purposes.[2] VNFOREST also manages and operate National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS) to update and monitor forest situation.[4]
Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment (DAEs) is responsible for guiding to implement annual forest inventory and submitting to PPCs for official announcement.[5] Sub-Forest Protection Departments (Sub-FPDs) and Forest Protection Stations report on forest status as part of their Provincial Forest Monitoring Systems (FMS). The provincial FMS is regularly updated by Sub-FPDs, Forest Protection Stations and forest owners, and the forest data is conditionally accessed by other forestry departments and users.
The MAE (previously Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment - MONRE) is responsible for developing detailed regulations on the appraisal of environmental impact assessment reports such as: organization and operation of the appraisal council, forms, documents, appraisal profile, and appraisal result reports. MAE and Provincial People's Committees (PPCs) are responsible for appraising environmental impact assessment reports of investment projects under their responsibilities.[6] Departments of Agriculture and Environment (DAE) are responsible for participating in the appraisal of social environmental impact assessment reports within their locality.
[1] Article 20, Law on Forestry (2017)
[2] Article 69, 72 Law on Land 2024
[3] Decree No. 35/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2025 on the functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
[4] Decision No 138/QD-BNNMT dated 1st March 2025 regulates on function, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Administration Forestry
[5] Circular No 16/2025/TT-BNNMT dated 19 June 2025 on decentralization of state management of some contents in forestry and forest protection
[6] Article 35 Law on Environment Protection 2020 and Article 38 Decree No 136/2025/ND-CP dated 12 June 2025 regulating on decentralization in agriculture and environment