G2. Actions to reduce displacement of emissions
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.[1]
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.[2]
MAE is also the national focal point for the Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System.
The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection (VNFOREST) under MAE is responsible for managing and implementing legal regulations on forest; organizing and implementing tasks on forest fire prevention and fighting; investigating forests; forest inventory, monitoring forest developments; allocating forests, leasing forests, reclaiming forests, and changing forest use purposes to other purposes.[2] VNFOREST also manages and operates the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) to update and monitor the forest situation.[3]
Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment (DAEs) are responsible for guiding the implementation of the annual forest inventory and submitting to Provincial Peoples Committees (PPCs) for official announcement.[4] 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.
MAE is also responsible for developing legal guidance on social and environmental impact assessments and for the appraisal and approval of these assessments for national and multi-province projects. Provincial DAEs are responsible for the appraisal and approval of environmental impact assessments within their respective localities.
[1] Article 69, 72 Law on Land 2024
[2] 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.
[3] Decision No 138/QD-BNNMT dated 1st March 2025 regulates on function, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Administration Forestry
[4] Circular No 16/2025/TT-BNNMT dated 19 June 2025 on decentralization of state management of some contents in forestry and forest protection.