The programme, Decision 661/QD/TTg (1998) of the Prime Minister, is a continuation of Programme 327 aimed at raising forest cover to 43 percent by the year 2010. It was implemented to establish five million hectares of new forest, together with the protection of existing forests in order to increase forest cover to 43% of the Vietnamese territory. It also has a number of other elements, including protecting the environment, decreasing the severity of natural disasters, increasing water availability, preserving gene resources and protecting biodiversity. In addition, the decision, for the first time, set up the ability of the Vietnamese Government to provide payments for environmental services. This payment includes money for protecting special-use forests, assisting regeneration, for reforestation, and creation of forests. This method of payment has been studied in regards to deciding upon the best way benefit distribution could be undertaken through REDD.
Decision by the Prime Minister on Objectives, Tasks, Policies and Organization for the Establishment of Five Million Hectares of New Forest (Decision 661)
Elements of REDD
Management and coordination
The management of Decision 661 is done at the central and local level. Centrally, a National Steering Committee was established to oversee implementation of the programme. An Executive Committee, under MARD, was also established. At the local level, where local projects are implemented, the Chairman of the People’s Committee is responsible for the overall result of projects implementation in his locality.
Rights and tenure
One of the guiding principles of Decision 661 is that people are the main force for establishment, protection, and regeneration of forests and are entitled to enjoy benefits from forest related activities. Decision 661 says that the State is to create a favourable legal environment; organise research and transfer technologies, issue policies which encourage people to engage in reforestation, provide funds or favourable credits, and support construction of essential infrastructure.
Safeguards
The Decision is the first time Vietnam proceeded with Payment for Environmental Services. To achieve its reforestation targets, the decision allowed for payment for protecting special use and protection forests located in very essential and essential watersheds. To assist natural regeneration, payments were also made, while people and households reforesting and tending new forests in certain areas could also be compensated. MARD was also charged with guiding local authorities in providing PES opportunities to organisations other than households.
MRV
The Decision provides the foundation for the measurement of forestry and land use in Vietnam, by making a commitment to review the extent of forestry and agriculture land and to make a plan for use of open land and bare hills in provinces, districts, and communes where local projects of the National Five Million Hectare Reforestation are to be established. The People's Committees are also charged to identify location and extent of special use forests, watershed protection forests in very essential, essential, and non essential areas, and production forests.
