Hanoi reviews forest land to align with national forest plan

THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment has called on districts and cities with woodlands to conduct immediate assessments of their forests and forest areas to ensure alignment with the national forestry planning for 2021-2030, with a long-term focus on 2050.

This directive follows Official Dispatch No. 1839/UBND-NNMT, issued on May 9, in response to the Minister of Agriculture and Environment’s Decision No. 575/QD-BNNMT, dated April 1, regarding the implementation of the national forestry planning.

Accordingly, the department has proposed adjustments to the classification of the three types of forests to ensure consistency with the national land use plan, the national forestry planning, and local-level district planning.

Local authorities are also tasked with reviewing forest land reserves to integrate them into the revision of district land use plans.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is the lead agency in managing forest land in accordance with planning objectives. It also advises the Municipal People's Committee on implementing specific tasks outlined in Decision No. 575 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The Department of Planning and Architecture will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment and local governments to review existing city planning documents, the national forest plan, and district-level land use plans to ensure consistency.

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance is tasked with advising the city on funds allocated for the 2021- 2030 national forestry planning implemented in Hanoi.

District and town governments are responsible for reviewing and delineating the boundaries and areas of different forest categories, and incorporating these findings into district-level planning to ensure consistency with the capital’s overall development strategy and the national forestry planning.