Quang Nam regulates advance payment and payment for forest environmental services

*Authorities set camera traps in the managed forest area. Photo: D.N*

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to guide the implementation of the decision. At the same time, periodically inspect and report annually on the implementation status according to regulations. The decision takes effect from April 20.

The regulations of the Provincial People's Committee clearly state that the management, advance payment and payment activities for forest environmental services in the province are carried out according to Decree No. 156 of the Government , applicable to the subjects including relevant state agencies; Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund; forest owners being management boards of protective and special-use forests and village communities, Commune-level People's Committees and other organizations assigned by the State to manage forests according to the provisions of law.

The money is coordinated from the Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund and money entrusted from users of forest environmental services in the province.

*Community forest protection group participates in removing wild animal traps in the forest area receiving forest environmental services. Photo: D.N*

Accordingly, 10% of the total amount of money entrusted to pay for management activities of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund; 5% of the reserve fund is taken from the total amount of money entrusted to forest environmental services. The remaining amount after deducting the above expenses is transferred by the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund to the forest owners and the People's Committees of the communes assigned to manage the forest and pay for forest environmental services.

Each year, the forest environmental service fee is advanced 4 times, with the advance rate (advance rate) based on the actual revenue up to the time of advance payment. Particularly for basins with the unit price up to the time of advance payment exceeding 2 times the state budget support level for forest protection contracts, the advance payment will only be up to 90% of the unit price which is 2 times the state budget support level for forest protection, the remaining funding source (10%) will be paid after the forest area is determined.

For forest owners whose forest environmental service revenue in the previous advances is too low and who request additional advances, the Director of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund shall consider using a source whose recipients of forest environmental service fees cannot be identified, a source with a unit price twice the state budget support level for forest protection contracts to make advances to forest owners, but must ensure the correct beneficiaries according to the provisions of Decree No. 156 of the Government.

Determining and paying the amount of forest environmental service payments before March 31 every year, based on the actual amount of forest environmental service payments collected the previous year and the results of determining the forest area for which forest environmental service payments are made, the Director of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund shall determine the amount of payments to the forest environmental service provider the previous year to pay the forest environmental service provider.

In addition, based on the actual amount collected in the year and the results of determining the forest area covered by forest environmental service payments, the fund will make payments to forest environmental service providers before April 30 of the following year...

Source