'Pocket' handbook for grassroots forestry management staff and forest rangers

The "Handbook on authority, tasks and administrative procedures in the forestry and forest rangers sector when implementing two-level local government" has just been issued by the Department of Forestry and Forest Rangers and sent to localities for study and reference.

Pocket guide for grassroots cadres

The Handbook was created in the context of the Law on Organization of Local Governments amended in 2025, which requires a clear definition of functions, tasks and coordination mechanisms between government levels and specialized agencies in the forestry and forest protection sectors. This is a professional guidance document for reference purposes, used within the scope of state management agencies in the forestry and forest protection sectors, specialized agencies of provincial and commune-level governments and related units.

According to the Editorial Board, the objective of the handbook is to systematize the administrative procedures being implemented; provide specific instructions on the process of receiving and handling procedures under the authority of the provincial and communal levels; and at the same time support cadres, civil servants and public employees in the process of receiving and processing documents as well as helping people and organizations in need to carry out administrative procedures in a transparent, effective and convenient manner, contributing to promoting sustainable forest management and protecting national natural resources.

Handbook on authority, tasks and administrative procedures in the forestry and forest protection sector when implementing two-level local government. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

3-part structure, easy to access

Notably, the handbook's content is clearly structured into three major parts. Part I focuses on the authority and tasks of local authorities in the forestry and forest protection sectors, detailing the authority and responsibilities of the People's Council, People's Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial and communal levels and related professional agencies.

Part II summarizes administrative procedures at the provincial level, divided into groups: forest management and protection; forest development; forest use and forest product processing; investment and financial management. Each procedure is associated with a legal basis, processing time limit, and specific implementation procedures, helping officials easily look up and apply.

Part III summarizes administrative procedures at the commune level, including contents directly related to the roles, responsibilities and scope of work of local authorities.

Cuc Phuong National Park rangers patrol and protect the forest. Photo: Tung Dinh.

In addition to the "3 in 1" structure, the handbook also has many outstanding new features: closely following and updating the latest legal system (Forestry Law, 2024 amended Land Law, Decrees 58/2024/ND-CP, 131/2025/ND-CP, 136/2025/ND-CP and guiding Circulars); presented in the form of "steps - deadlines - handling agencies" for easy reference; with instructions for use right at the beginning for staff to read carefully, use the table of contents to quickly find content, update documents when there are changes, mark frequently used procedures and combine with the electronic document system, administrative management software to increase work processing efficiency.

The handbook is publicly posted at: https://vnforest.gov.vn/2025/09/26/so-tay-huong-dan-tham-quyen-nhiem-vu-va-thu-tuc-hanh-chinh-linh-vuc-lam-nghiep-va-kiem-lam-khi-thuc-hien-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap / for localities to easily download, look up and update.

The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection recommends that the Departments of Agriculture and Environment receive and transfer this Handbook to local authorities at all levels for study and use. Mastering and properly applying the Handbook will contribute to improving the quality of service to people and businesses, and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in the forestry and forest protection sectors.

Source: https://sonnmt.langson.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/lam-nghiep-kiem-lam/cam-nang-bo-tui-cho-can-bo-co-so-quan-ly-lam-nghiep-kiem-lam.html