Policy on environmental forest lease at national parks in northern vietnam case study in ba vi, tam dao and ben en national parks

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

This work has been completed at:

BUI THI MINH NGUYET

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

POLICY ON FOREST ENVIRONMENT LEASE IN NATIONAL

Judge 1:

PARKS IN THE NORTHERN VIETNAM
CASE STUDY AT BA VI, TAM DAO, BEN EN NATIONAL PARKS

SPECIALTY: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
CODE: 62.62.01.15

Judge 2:

Jude 3 :

SUMMARY OF DISSERTATION ON ECONOMICS

The Dissertation will be defended at University Doctoral Committee
Scientific Instructor: 1. Assoc.Prof.Dr Vu Dinh Thang

held at National Economics University at …..hours, on…… 2014

2. Assoc.Prof.Dr Tran Quoc Khanh

The Dissertaton can be further referred to at :
National Library
Library of National Economics University

Ha Noi - 2014


LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

PREFACE

Articles

1. Rationale: Exploiting the benefits from National Park, particularly
the value of forest environment services are interested in and experimented by
many National Park in the world. Vietnam also allows the National Park to
organize proactively in ecotourism business activities to generate investment
income for forest protection and development. A new development trend in
recent time is companies, organizations, individuals wishing to rent forest
environment in National Parks for ecotourism business. Although the trend
has been formed newly, this is a potential development trend and get the
consensus of society. Besides, the forest environment lease is a method to
socialize forest environment services which contribute revenues to be
reinvested in forest protection and development by their own capital, reducing
investment from the State. Though the State has adopted the policy of forest
environment lease for ecotourism business in National Parks and this policy has
been evaluated successfully in pilot National Parks for leasing but the policy has
been implemented slowly. One of the main reasons is that the forest environment
leasing policy has been incompleted, scattered in a number of different laws,

lack of necessary regulations, or some inadequated regulations which cause
difficulties for the development process. Therefore, the management plans, the
legal framework and the policies for leasing forest environment are still an open
question which should be the orientation of the management levels and forestry.
From above issues, the research on the perfect forest environment lease policies
in National Parks is necessary and urgent. This is the main reason to choose this
problem as the subject of my dissertation.
2. Research Objectives: Researching on scientific base and the state of

1.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2011), Hire special forest environment to develop
ecotourism in Ba Vi National Park – Situations and Solutions, Journal of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Noi.

2.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2012), Solution to sustainable ecotourism development in
Ba Vi National Park, Journal of Forestry Technology and Science, Ha Noi, No
04/2012.

3.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet, Vu Dinh Thang (2013), The impact of policies for
leasing forest environment in Ba Vi National park, Journal of Development
Economics, Ha Noi.

4.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2013), Solution to ecotourism development in Tam Dao

National Park, Giải pháp phát triển du lịch sinh thái tại Vườn quốc gia Tam ðảo,
Journal of Forestry Technology and Science, No 01/2013

5.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2011), The Policies of forest environment lease to
ecotourism business in National Parks of Vietnam, The summary record of
workshop by National Economics University.

6.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet, Tran Quang Bao (2013), Models of exploiting forest
environmental service for ecotourism service business in Ba Vi National Park,
Ha Noi. Journal of Forestry Technology and Science, No 04/2013.

1.

Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2009), Some solutions contribute to promoting linkages
between the State, enterprises, farmers and scientists in the forest business in
midland areas of northern Vietnam, University Project.
Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2011), Some solutions in order to improve the policies
for leasing forest environment in Ba Vi, Tam Dao Nation Parks, University
Project.
Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2011), Comparative studies in developing large wood in
the mountainous area of the Northern Vietnam, Funded by JICA – Japan.
Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2013), Research on methods of determining the value of
land in agriculutural and forestry enterprises, Funded by Ministry of Science and
Technology.
Bui Thi Minh Nguyet (2013), Research on management policies of National
Park to ensure sustained growth of Melaleuca in U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha

National Park, Funded by Ministry of Science and Technology.

Reports of Projects

2.

3.
4.

5.

policies on forest environment lease for ecotourism business to propose a
complete solution for leasing forest environment in National Parks in
Northern region of Vietnam.
3. Research Objects: The dissertation focuses on policy research of
forest environment lease for business purposes in National Parks in Northern
region of Vietnam.


4. Research Scope

6. Researching methods

- Space: Selected research areas are Ba Vi (Ha Noi), Tam Dao (Vinh

6.1. Methods of Collecting Information

Phuc) and Ben En (Thanh Hoa) National Parks.
- Time: Research from 2002 when a pilot scheme of forest environment
lease had been stated in some National Parks of Vietnam.

* Method of selecting study object: National Parks chosen in the
research locate in various positions in the northern region. They have the
potential to lease environment and deploy forest environment lease activities in

- Research contents:

various degrees. At each National Park, following information was collected:

+ Rationale and practice base of policy for leasing forest environment in

Information about the basic features of the National Park, the National Park

National Park.

management, ecotourism activity management and management of forest

+ The status of policy and policy implementation for leasing forest

environment leasing. Besides, information on the status of implementation of

environment in Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En National Parks, results, restrictions

forest environment lease policy in National Park and information about the

and causes.

participation of the parties in the implementation of forest environment lease

+ Solutions for completing forest environment lease policy in National

Parks in Northern region of Vietnam.
5. New Scientific Contributions of Dissertation
- In terms of theory: Systematizing theoretical basis for forest
environment lease policy and leasing for ecotourism business purposes in
National Parks. Summarizing the international experience for forest
environment lease policy and drawing lessons for Vietnam. Synthesizing

policy were also collected.
* Methods of collecting information:
- Secondary information: Secondary information was collected through
inheriting methods, research at desk, including: The relevant law documents;
Information about summary and assessment of policy and the implementation of
forest environment leasing policy; Documents and research results relating to the

policy documents that relate to forest environment lease policy in Vietnam,

forest environment leasing policy; Reports from different levels of local

analyzing the limitations and shortcomings of forest environment lease policy

government, the forestry management agencies, the research of National Parks.
- Primary information: Information was collected through interviewing

in national Parks.
- In terms of practice: Assessing the implementation status of forest

directly managers, interviewing people and participants who subject to the

environment lease policy in National Parks; Evaluating the positive and

renting and leasing activities. Consulting ideas from experts through directly

negative sides in implementing forest environment lease policy in National

interviewing such as interviewing central level managers and scientists. Case

Park; Evaluating the appropriateness of policies related to leasing forest

study: comprehensive study in 3 National Parks, among them conducting in

environment in National Park;

depth study of Ba Vi National Parks. The number of interview samples

offering lessons learned in implementing

forest environment policy in National Park.
- Base on a theoretical and practical basis, proposing solutions in order
to improve the policy and implementation of forest environment lease policy
in National Park, Vietnam.

depends on the number of managing staffs and employees of Ba Vi National
Park as well as the travel companies, expected number is about 100 people.
6.2. Information Processing and Analyzing: Information and data are
aggregated and analyzed for each location and each content of the study.


Specifically, the quantitative information (forms, data …) will be processed

7.2. Research results in Vietnam

and integrated by the excel program. The methods of analysis: the method of

In Vietnam, there are some research projects related to the topic such as:

economic statistics; the synthesis method, the descriptive method; the

(1) Forest management system in Vietnam; (2) Forest evaluation

comparative method; the expert method.

determination; (3) Forest rent.

7. Literature Review
7.1. International Researches

These researches point out several related problems, a certain aspect of
the policy as well as certain experiences. Because of the demands for the

There are only few studies on forest environment lease policy in

integration process and economic development, the innovation, perfect

National Parks. The dissertation reckoned up research projects related to the

theoretical and practical policy for forest environment lease policy is an

following areas: (1) Studies on the value of forests, environmental values of

inevitable trend in Vietnam today.

forests and forest environmental services: The studies confirmed that forests

8. Dissertation structure

have many values, these values provide many different benefits, the full
assessment of value of forest and forest environment is the basis for
exploitation and sustainable forest management. But people are only
interested in values of logging while the value of forest environmental
services are really interested in lately. (2) The studies of exploitation of
ecotourism services: The activities of ecotourism business, entertainment tend
to rise and have increasingly high proportion of the total values of the forest.
Leasing forest environment for ecotourism business has been considered as one

Besides Preface, Conclution, List of references and appendices, the
dissertation structure includes 3 chapters:
Chapter 1: Rationale and practice base of policy for leasing forest
environment in National Park.
Chapter 2: The state and implement of policy for leasing forest
environment in Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En National Parks.
Chapter 3: Complete solutions for forest environment lease policy in in
National Parks in Northern region of Vietnam.

of the important issues of forest management currently. (3) The studies of forest
environment lease policy for ecotourism business in National Parks: awareness
of forest evironmental value has been getting more attention, which lead to
changes in policy of forest management and forestry. State policies related to
forest environment lease are not really suitable for practical requirements,
specific policy. Therefore, the implementation of forest environment lease is
small and spontaneous. (4) The studies of evaluation of forest service values and

determination of forest environment lease price: quantify this value is relatively
complex, specific assessment methods can be applied depending on types of
goods and environmental services provided by.

Chapter 1
RATIONALE AND PRACTICAL BASIS OF FOREST
ENVIRONMENT LEASE POLICY IN NATIONAL PARKS
1.1. Forest environment rent in National parks
1.1.1. The concept and role of forest for society
1.1.1.1. The definition of forest: The forest is an ecosystem including
forest, wild animals, forest micro-organism flora, forest land and other
environmental factors.
1.1.1.2. The forest for society: Forest has 3 main roles including: (1)
Providing forest products and non-timber forest products; (2) Protection role,


protect ecological environment and provide forest environment services; (3)

1.2.2. The basic elements forming policy for leasing forest environment:

Role of society.

Determination of policy objectives, the text of the policy, certain rules for the

1.1.2. National Parks and their features in Vietnam

implementation of the policy documents.

1.1.2.1. National Park: National Park is a part of special purpose forest, its
functions are nature, natural landscape and biodiversity conservation.

1.1.2.2. Features of National Park:(1) National Park is a part of special

1.2.3. Organization system of forest environment lease policy in National Park:
Government,

Ministry

of

Agriculture

and

relevant

Ministries,

people’Committee of province, National Park.

purpose forest; (2) in undevelopment areas; (3) The majority of the National

1.2.4. The nature of forest environment lease policy in National Park: As a

Park has a dual role (conservation combining entertainment, tourism.

specific policy in forestry policy system, directly related to a specific object

1.1.2.3. National Park system in Vietnam: total of 128 forest purpose

which is National Parks, but it is related to many other policies. Putting on

forests, including 30 National Parks, 48 nature reserves, 12 protected species

real – life content of laws, state policies for forestry, forest socialization;

areas, 38 protected landscape areas.

Mobilizing the resources of society for forest protection and development,

1.1.3. Forest environment and forest environment rent in National Parks

particularly attracting components of non-state organizations; Ensuring

1.1.3.1. The concept of forest environment and forest environment
services

employees, who are directly involved in the production, can be paid for the
creating value by themselves and inccordance with the true value of the forest;

* The concept of forest environment: “Forest environment includes

Improving capacity and effectiveness of management, forestuse and protection

components of forest ecosystem: plants, animals, microorganisms, water, soil,

for forest owners; Exploiting the resources of forestry, forest environment (own

air, natural landscape”(Decree No. 99/2010/Nð-CP).

resources) to develop new carriers in the economy (ecotourism).

* The concept of forest environment services: “Forest environment

1.3. Experience in developing and implementing forest environment lease

services is to provide the use value of forest environment to meet the needs of

policy in the world and Vietnam

society and people’s lives” (Decree No. 99/2010/Nð-CP).

1.3.1. Practical experience lessons in the world: Managing and developing

1.1.3.2. The concept of forest and forest environment rent: “As a form

consistent policy with National Park, combining state and private sectors in

of forest land use and forest of National Park, natural conservation area for

forest and land management, exploiting forest environment values in National

organizations” (Decree No 104/2007/Qð-BNN).

Park, sustainable development of ecotourism in National Park, experience of

1.2. Forest environment lease policy in National Park

valuable determination of forest environment services, development and

1.2.1. The concept of forest environment lease policy: Forest environment

completion of forest environment lease policy in National Park.

lease policy is a set of policies, views, solutions, tools for impact on

1.3.2. Practical experience lessons in Vietnam in perfecting forest

operations of forest environment lease in National Park to achieve

environment lease policy in National Park: The National Parks of Vietnam

proposedcriteria on the basis of ensuring the exploitation of forest

have abundant natural resources, beautiful scenery, diversity of fauna and

environment service value for ecotourism business.

flora, combining with human ecotorism resources. Therefore,potential of


ecotourism development is very great. At present, most of National Parks are

Ben En National Park was established on August 9th 1986, under MARD, this

having ecotourism business which is the first step to create the economic and

National Park was transferred to people’committee of Thanh Hoa province.

social benefit. However, ecotourism in National Park ’have not been

2.2.2. Status of land and tourism resources in Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En

commensurated with the available potential while the nature of tourism

National Parks: The research National Parks have a large area of land, huge

development is spontaneous. With that existing problem, the policy of the

ecosystem diversity, many beautiful natural sceneries, rich human travel resources.

state is to attract the various components of exploitation of forest environment

However, to exploit them to meet the development of tourism, it need to invest funds to

service to enhance the forest value, looking for revenue sources for

build, develop and embellish these resources.

conservation, reduce the burden on the State. However, implementation is

2.2.3. Evaluation of own potential exploitation for ecotourism development

very difficult and having many problems. Many National Parks stop at

in Tam Dao, Ba Vi, Ben En National Parks: The National Park has great

programs and schemes because the activities are very new and in fact there is

potential for ecotourism development through exploitation of the natural

not much appreciated attention to have practical experiences.

elements, biological diversity, natural lanscape and human tourism resources.

1.3.3. Learned lessons in pefecting policy of forest environment lease: Through

However, the exploitation of this potential depends on many factors such as

experience research in management of National Park, ecotourism activities,

geographical location, the attractiveness of natural resources, diversification of

forest environment lease in Vietnam and the world, the dissertation drawn 14

tourism products, local policies, the seasonality of tourism, linkage in tourism

research issues.

organizations.
Chapter 2

2.2.4. The basic activities in research National Parks: Main activities are

STATUS OF POLICY AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION OF

Management of forest protection, development, exploitation and management

FOREST ENVIRONMENT LEASE IN BA VI, TAM DAO, BEN EN

activities. In reality, the National Parks focus primarily on operations of forest

NATIONAL PARKS

protection and development, management activities of one career units while

2.1. Overview of National park in the Northern Vietnam
National Park in the northern region accounts for 50% of

other activities are not interested to develop, especially exploiting forest
environment services to raise revenue for the National Parks.

Vietnam’National Parks, diverse ecosystems, beautiful natural scenery, and

2.3. The policy of forest environment lease in research National Parks

rich human resources which having specific features of each regions.

2.3.1. Background of the forest environment lease policy in National Parks:

2.2. Characteristics of Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En National Park which

Forest environment for rent in National Parks is one of the new points of the

affecting policy implementation for forest environment rent and lease

policy to encourage investment and development of special purpose forest. This

2.2.1. History of research National Parks

policy is being completed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and

Ba Vi National Park was established on January 16th 1991, under the

MARD to exploit the forest environment services to raise revenue for forest

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Tam Dao National

workers, increase re-investment, reduce the investment of the State and improve

Park was established on January 24th 1977, under MARD on June 15th 1996.

implementation of social mobilization in forest protection and development.


2.3.2. The policy, the view of the Party and the State for forest environment

environment, Mechanism of investment for National Park, Provision of

lease in National Park: Forest environment lease in National Parks began in

organization for ecotourism activities in National Park, the degree of impact on

2002 through the scheme “pilot of using special purpose forest environment

forest environment in National Park, determining the rate of forest land area in

for ecotourism development and vocational education” which is assigned to

National Park to build infrastructure, objects of hiring and lease for forest

MARD to implement by the Prime Minister. The view of the Party and the

environment, the term of forest environment lease, price of forest environment

State... “to encourage the development of activities for forest environmental

rent, regulations of revenue use from ecotourism activities, regulations of project

services, ecotourism business in National Park suitably provisions of the law

development for forest environment lease, regulations of sequences, procedures,

to create revenue for National Park, replacing investment of State budget”.

authority for forest environment lease in National Park, regulations of check and

2.3.3. The goals of forest environment lease policy for ecotourism business in

supervision.

National Park: Socializing forest environmental services in National Parks

2.4. The status of the implementation of forest environment lease policy

helps to reduce the burden of the State; to ensure that the workers are paid

in Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En National Parks

the forest value by their creation and people who are responsible for forest

2.4.1. The propaganda activities of plan development for forest environment

management can increase income; increasing the efficiency of the forest

in research National Parks:

sector through the receipt of management skills and the investment from the

The propagation and dissemination of policy, plan development and plans for

private sectors; the development of ecotourism business based on the

hiring remains slow. When implementing plan, it need to develop full contents

foundation of assets under public ownership, the equity capital of the

of the plan as a business plan.

National Park; increasing income for local people.

2.4.2. Identifying and selecting organizations for forest environment lease in

2.3.4. The system of legal documents relating to forest environment lease for

research National Parks: The National Parks will provide criteria for hiring

ecotourism business in National Park: The law of forest protection and

objects. Important criteria are capcity (financial, experience) ofensuring

devlopment dated on February 3rd 2004 by National Assembly; Decision No.

principles for operating lease (forest protection and development, conservation

18/2007/Qð-TTg dated on February 5th 2007 by Prime Minister; Decision No.

of natural resources and human resources, attracting community, local

57/2012/Qð-TTg dated on January 9th 2012 by Prime Minister; Decree No.

contributions,...).

23/2006/Nð-CP dated on March 3rd 2006 by Government; Decree No.

2.4.3. Determining rent price and terms of contract for forest environment lease

117/2010/Nð-CP dated on December 24th 2010 by Government; Decision No.

in research National Parks

186/2006/Qð-TTg dated on August 14th 2006 by Prime Minister; Decision No.

a) Determination of rent price for forest environment: Ba Vi National

104/2007/Qð- BNN dated on December 27th 2007 by MARD; Decision No.

Park has established a Board of building plan to calculate rent price of forest

24/2012/Qð-TTg dated on June 1st 2012 by Prime Minister. The legislative

environment based on Decree No. 48/2007/ND-CP on March 28th 2007 of

documents proposed the following contents: Regulations on management and

Government, in 2008 price is determined at 409.408 dong. Ben En National Park

use of special purpose forest, regulations on hiring special purpose forest

has been using the comparative method to determine the rent price of forest


environment. The unit that is chosen to compare is the Ba Vi National Park and

e) Result of signing a contract between the National Park and units of

the rent price is determined to be 606.247 VND/ha/year. The dissertation has

forest environment lease: Ba Vi National Park has selected 6 units those are

taken a number of exiting method for determining rent price of forest

eligible for forest environment lease and determined the boundary of these

environment.

units. However, so far the Park has signed with only two organizations. One

b) The order and procedures of implementing forest environment lease

reason for the delay in signing the contract between the National Park and the

policy in research National Parks: Ba Vi National Park is the first unit

travel companies is that the conditions in the contract with the travel companies

assigned to pilot lease policy for forest environment. Ba Vi National Park has

are not close while there is no coordination between the National Park and

done a lot of work with many different procedures. The procedure is

local Goverment, not accurately assess the financial strength of the companies

performed to ensure compliance with legislation and ensure strict legal. Ben

receiving rent. Two travel companies have sighned contracts comply with

En National Park has implemented more simple procedures than Ba Vi

contractual commitments as acreage, protection and conservation of natural

National Park but basically still ensured necessary order and procedure.

resources, construction area of infrastructure.

c) The provisions in implementing forest environment lease policy in

2.4.4. The inspection and supervision of the implementation of forest

research National Parks: Ba Vi National Park has made provisions in detail

environment lease policy in research National Park: The contents of

in implementing forest environment lease policy, including: area for leasing,

inspection include: the implementation of the park of planned contents, digital

regulation on building of lease schemes, area measurement, inventory and

content of protection, afforestation and construction of infrastructure. The

assessment of the status of forest and land; records of land use planning in the

unit that are assigned to perform inspection is park rangers. They must have

lease area, the construction of buildings, ecotourism business organization,

an annual report on the forest environment lease activities in the area, while

monitoring,... The povisions in implementing forest environment lease policy in

arisen problem must be reported immediately to the leaders of park to solve.

Ben En National Park base on experience of Ba Vi National Park. Therefore, they are

2.4.5. The result of the implementation of forest environment leaw policy for

more adequate, especially regulations of ecotourism organization, local attraction,

ecotourism business in Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ben En National Parks

compliance of the national and local povisions, cultural value protection of local...

2.4.5.1. Ba Vi National Park

However, these povisions need to be more detailed and include specific criteria to

a) The number of units of forest enviornment lease in Ba Vi National Park:

ensure favorable conditions for the inspection and supervison. The contents of

National Park has allowed six units for pilot leasing forest environment on the

ecotourism organization need to be detail, such as: implementation activities,

area that used to be assigned to protect forest previously. Among six

organization, capacity,environmental impact assessment, using local labor and

companies, two companies have implemented business activities well, while

contributing to local,...

other companies are in the phase of investing in infrastructure so they have

d) The terms of forest environment lease: Area, term, location, levels of
impact, price and method of payment for lease, settlement of the relevant
assets, rights and obligations of each party.

not got adequate facilities to conduct business activities.

b) The area and location of forest environment lease in Ba Vi National Park:
Total area of ecotourism zone that receives forest environment rent in Ba Vi


National Park is 743.4 ha, including natural resources, planted forest, land without
forest in ecological restoration zones.

d) Results of forest protection and development of forest environment rent
units in Ba Vi National Parks: Forest development is interested in by rental units.

c) Revenue from ecotourism activities in Ba Vi National Park: Income

Empty land area was planted supplementally by rental units from their own fund.

from forest environment lease in Ba Vi National Park tends to increase but with

After 8 years (from 2003 to 2011), the total forest area in the region has increased

small proportion. In contrast, revenue from ecotourism activities of leasing

by 40,2%. A large part of empty land area has been replanted (207ha) and the

organization has increased which shows professionalism and the effect of

remaining of 16ha has been used to build the infrastructure (accounting for 2,18%).

investment of travel companies on contributing to make revenue of the

Leased forest environment units have private security forces in conjunction with

companies for forest environment lease.

Park rangers so forest protection is done very well. The total cost of the annual
Unit: Million dong

forest protection of forest environment rent units is 690 million dong used to
maintain full-time team of forest management and fire preventation.
e) Result of tourist attraction in Ba Vi National Park: The number of
visitors to the park increased tremendously after implementing forest
environment lease policy. Implementation of tourism companies is more
professional,especially companies have the financial resources to invest in

Figure 2.1. Income from forest

Figure 2.2. Income from Ecotourism at Ba

environmental lease at BaVi National Park

Vi National Park of tourism companies

Sourses: Ba Vi National Park [46]

technical infrastructure, creating beautiful man-made lanscape, investing forest
regeneration so the number of visitors tend to increase over years.

Sourses: Ba Vi National Park [45]

Unit: Visitors

Revenue structure of the tourism companies are various, mainly from

landscape ticket fees and accommodation services. The structure of income is
different between the units of environment rent relating to the situation of
investment and objectives of the business.
Unit: %
Figure 2.4. Number of visitors at Ba

Figure 2.5. Number of visitors at

Vi National Park

Ecotourism Companies
Sources: Ba Vi National Park [46]

The number of visitors to the tourist areas have significant differencies
(Figure 2.4). Attracting visitors to the resort depends on many factors, including
Figure 2.3. Revenue structure of Thien Son-Suoi Nga and Thac Da Ecotourism Companies

Sources: Ba Vi District [45]

rental location, financial capability and experience of business owners is crucial.


f) The result of jobs and income generation for local people in Ba Vi
National Park: Forest environment lease policy has created job for 1576

in ecotourism business activities, so looking for rental and investable units in
the park is difficult.

local people with stable earnings, including 490 employees in the regular

2.4.5.3. Tam Dao National Park: Tam Dao National Park has many

payroll of the ecotourism area, 305 employees with infrequent work contract.

advantages in terms of location and tourist potential, but at present forest

Besides, creating thousands of indirect employment opportunities for local

environment lease policy is still a part of the plan, although MARD agreed in the

people as sales, travel guides, catering services,... which helping people

policy, due to the ojective and subjective reasons.

increase their income, diverse revenue from contribute to the reduction of
forest.

Now, only Ba Vi National Park has already been implementing policy
of forest environment lease, the policy implemented over a long period,

g) The actual use of funds for forest environment lease in Ba Vi

sufficient basis to assess performance results and draw policy the lessons

National Park: The total collected money from forest environment lease

learned to improve policy.

activities from 2008 to 2011 is 1.5582 million dong. Although thefunding

3.5. Assess the impact of forest environment lease policy in Ba Vi, Tam Dao,

from activities of forest environment lease is not much it does help the park

Ben En National Park

have more funds to cover conservation and maintenace of park operations.

3.5.1. The positive impacts: The result of implementation of forest environment

h) Status of coordination between stakeholders in the implementation

lease policy in Nation Park shows that the policy have had positive impacts on

process of forest environment lease policy in Ba Vi National Park: Ba Vi

all aspects of economic, society and environment such as: Reducing the

National Park has participated in managing and guiding of ecotourism

investment of the State, contributing to forest development and protection owned

activities of forest environment rent units; People’Committee of Ba Vi district,

by the State, helping to develop local livelihoods, impacting human resources in

communes have ecotourism sites to perform the management function of the

the region, contributing to job creation and income generation for local people,

State of economic, social, technical activities that affect forest; Households

changing structure of revenue in National Parks.

and individuals in the area are involved in service activities at the resort.

3.5.2. The negative impacts of forest environment lease policy and causes

However, to ensure the success of the policy, it requires closer collaboration

3.5.2.1. The negative impacts: Awareness of the forest environment lease

through a co-management mechanism to enhance the accountability of the

policy is incomplete in the Board of National Park Management. The policy has

parties related to issues of forest resources management and use at the Park.

not provided enough motivation to achieve its objectives. The regulations going

2.4.5.2. Ben En National Park: Ben En National Park has made a plan

along with the policy are not enough and may not have created positive impacts

to lease forest environment and ecotourism area and has implemented specific

on forest land and resources while they still fail to promote the role of

activities to ensure the policy such as lease area planning, determination of

stakeholders in the policy implementation. The process of policy implementation

rent price, looking for travel business units, determination of conditions for

meet difficulties because preparation part has not been done well, leading

environment lease. However, the position of Ben En National Park is less

tonecessary conditions to implement have not been ensured while rent price and

favorable than Ba Vi National Park. In the area there are not many enterprises

use of funds is not reasonable.


3.5.2.2. Causes of the negative impacts: Causes arising from policy
development: No specific legal framework, many slow documents, incomplete

3.1.2. Context of home and world influences to the complement of forest
environment lease policy in National Park

guidelines, no specific criteria to ensure the necessary relations between lessee

3.1.2.1. Advantages of the complement of forest environment lease

and lessor. Causes of the policy implementation such as: no staff trained to

policy for ecotourism business in National Park: National Park management

manage the rent operations, contracts not close,...

trend is changing gradually to combine conservation and exploitation of
forest economic benefits, carry out commercial activities to support

Chapter 3

conservation activities; The values of forest environment services are

SOLUTIONS FOR PERFECTING FOREST ENVIRONMENT LEASE

increasingly appreciated and is a part of the general strategy of Government;

POLICY IN NATIONAL PARKS IN THE NORTHERN VIETNAM

Many National parks in the world and Vietnam have sucessfully exploited

3.1. Base of perfection for forest environment lease policy in National

forest environment services for ecotourism business; The implementation of

Park in the Northern Vietnam

forest environment lease policy has adopted pilot projects of forest

3.1.1. The policy of the Party and the State affects the completion of forest

environment lease for ecotourism business in some National parks. These

environment lease policy in National Park: The policy of the Party and the

projects were assessed successfully and concluded not to affect the function

State are presented in the development strategy of Vietnam’s forestry,

of conservation.

strategies of exploitation and use of special purpose forest, the Law of forest

3.1.2.2. The difficulties in improvement of forest environment lease

protection and development, the Law of biodiversity and concretized in the

policy for ecotourism business in National Park in Vietnam: Because the

underlaw. These policies confirm the low forest growth forestry, not to

particular nature of management, legal system, social and economic

exploit the full value of forest, especially forest environment searvices.

conditions differ between countries, the National Parks, it is difficult to have

National Parks are wasting potential, relying too heavily on State, having low

a common partern or make a general rule; the opinion of conservation is

investment funds,... The view in next time: Forestry development from

narrow and has no change in the management; the management boards of

management, protection, development and rational use of forest resources;

parks are not dynamic, not interested in exploiting the value of forest

forestry development based on accelerating and deepening the policy of forest

environment services and still rely on the State. The policy of forest

industry socialization, attracting investment resources for forest protection

environment lease is incomplete, not really suitable, has not many models to

and development; increasing revenue from forest environment services;

study, and need to learn from experience to complete the policy of forest

increasing revenue, diversing form of exploitation organization of forest

environment lease in National Park in Vietnam. Besides, some difficulties are

environment services in National Park, offseting const, increasing revenue for

peculiar nature of Vietnam such as investment restriction for National Parks,

force of forest management and protection, reducing pressure on the State

diversity of management subjects, no methods to create incentives for

budget, people protect forest directly who receive benifits from exploitationn

National Park manager, capacity of officials,...

of services, but ensure the povisions of law, regulations of protected area.


3.1.2.3. Awareness of the lessee and the lessor for goals, contents of

on the basis of higher level, based on consistent basis effect object to be

forest environment lease policy in research National Park: Inadequate

National Park. Policy should ensure the following requirements: ensuring

awareness for forest environment of forest managers, assessment of the majority

policy harmonization between conservation and development; Creating a

of them on environment services has not exploited fully, the value of tourism

legal framework to ensure encourages for investors to combine travel and

and entertainment are just exploited, the consensus opinion of the policy content

forest protection, especially in the private sector; The policy must address the

has made relatively clear. However, at evaluation time many relevant legal

potential conflicts among the goals of resources conservation and travel.

documents were enacted and Ba Vi National Park has also built regulations for

Needing to build relevant policies synchronously as: land policy, benefit

forest environment lease of the Park.

policy, buffer management policy, benefit sharing policy, investment policy,

3.2. The goals of complement of forest environment lease policy in

conservation policy, policy

National Parks in northern Vietnam: Strengthen State management for

conservation and exploitation of the available benefits of the park,...

to attract the social sectors to participate in

forest environment lease activities in National Park, ensuring sustainable

3.1.3. Complement of the content of forest environment lease in National

development of forest in National Park, changing awarness of management

Park: The construction and complement of policy content should be based on an

levels and strengthen coordination of stakeholders, encouraging non-state

assessment and a thorough analysis on the basis of field surveys and experience

elements exploit potential of National Park.

lessons in development and implementation of forest environment lease policy in

3.3. Some methods of complement for forest environment lease policy for

National Parks in the world, base on the specific conditions of Vietnam, in each

ecotourism business in National Parks in northern Vietnam area

region, especially the lessons learned from the pilot project of forest environment

3.3.1. Solutions related to policy development

lease has been summarized and evaluated.

3.3.1.1. Determination of policy goals: Exploitation of environment

3.3.1.4. Research, modification, additional regulations, guidance of policy

factors for lease in order to increase income for the forest management Boards

implementation: Regulations on forest environment lease subjects; Regulations

and the forest workers; Performance of socialization of forest environment

on the lease term, the lease termination; Regulations on the lease quota;

services in the framework of forest environment services; Generating revenue,

Regulations on methods of determination and the cost to lease; Money

reducing the burden of the State in forest protection and development for the

management and use from forest environment lease; Rights and obligations of

forests where have multiple environmental services; Ensuring the natural

the lessee and the lease of forest environment; Sequence and procedures for

resources and human resources conservation and development, biological

forest environment lease; Mechanism of transfer of forest environment lease;

diversity and environmental function of forest;

Implementing organization for forest environment lease; the organization

Linking to community

support, poverty reduction.

regulations for monitoring and content of monitoring.

3.3.1.2. Ensuring uniformity in policy building: Building a system of

3.3.1.5. Addition and complementation of legal documents: Need a

uniform policies for policy promulgating level. Policies issued at different

separate policy for forest environment lease activities. Reviewing documents

levels to ensure uniform legal, unification under a common goal, lower level

related to add, build guidable documents as Decree, circular of MARD, the


text of the directly manage units as National Park. Some additional contents

investors and tourists; Aware education of forest protection and coordination

such as policy of investment source mobilazation for special purpose forest,

of the community participation.

buffer management policy, regulations on National Park’s capacity,

3.3.2.4. Preparation of the necessary procedures to implement forest

regulations on infrastructure building for ecotourism development of National

environment lease policy for ecotourism business in National Park: Ensuring

Park, regulations on training support of human resources for ecotourism

legal and coherence of forest environment rent contract; Amending, supplementing

development, specific rules of compensation level for infrastructure

the regulations and guidances to implement the policy.

investment business in ecology forest when the State recovers land for other

3.2.3.5. Mobilizing stakeholders to exploit the forest environment on

projects and the level of business’compulsory investment for forest

the basis of solving harmony of interests between stakeholders and ensuring

conservation

to be effective, coordination and regulation of relationship

sustainable development of the forest environment: There should be

building between the participants to use the forest sustainably, regulations of

provisions to ensure the join between the parties involved in the forest

income and expenditure mechanism related to forest enviroment lease.

environment lease policy on the basis of combination of rights and

3.3.2. Group of implementation solutions for forest environment lease

responsibilities of each party’rights; Solving the economic relationship

policy for ecotourism business in National Park

between stakeholders.

3.3.2.1. Decentralized administration of National Park: Need to

2.2.3.6. Collaboration and benefit share between the park management

develop decentralization mechanisms, creating a financial mechanism for

Board and local government in forest management and benefits exploitation

National Park, ensuring responsibilities associated with specific tasks and

from forest: create appropriate mechanisms to encourage the participation of

powers for each level. In particular, it need to be strengthened to attract and

stakeholders in the local management of the park. The collaboration between

increase accountability at all levels of government, specially districts and

people and communities is essential and through propaganda, education for

communes.

people living in the buffer zone participate forest protection and development.

3.3.2.2. Review and implementation for certificate of land use rights for
National Parks : Certificates of land use rights help the Parks to have the legal
basis for implementation, signing contract with organizations, individuals
wishing to rent forest environment.

The collaboration between the National Park management Board and local

authorities on the basis of ensuring the benefit of the two sides.
3.2.3.7. Well organized inspection and monitoring for forest
environment rent units: Forest environment rent units are checked, guided,

3.3.2.3. Preparing the necessary conditions for policy implementation

consulted regularly to comply the approved plans through specialized

in the Park: Completing the National Park structure, determining the rights

department. When policy implementation needs to have the required impact

and responsibilities of the Park management Board for activities of forest

assessment of ecotourism activities to conservation, economic and social

environment lease. Training human resources in ecotourism development;

development in the region. The assessment must be carried out regularly and

Building infrastructure in National Park area to attract investor to rent forest

immediately after signing the lease contract, in build of projects for forest

environment; Conservation of biodiversity in order to generate attraction for

environment lease. Ensuring to limit the risk of natural resource conservation.


At all stages of the process of policy implementation need to be checked,

following issues: management decentralization mechanism of National Park

monitored closely to ensure not to cause adverse effects to the forest

based on responsibilites and certain powers, fitted with approciate investment

environment and diversity in National Parks.

mechanisms for National Park; Issuing cerficates of land use rights for the Parks;
Completing the management structure at the Parks on a a consistent basis tend to

CONCLUSION
On the basis of the research contents, the author has completed the
research objectives and the following conclusions:

associate with protection and exploitation of the value of forest. Strengthening
dissemination of policy to related objects; Mobilizing participants to exploit the
forest environment, especially the private sector; Education and awareness of

1. Ecotourism business in National Park is a method of forest

forest protection and coordination of the implementation of forest environment

environment value exploitation, has been being applied in many countries in

lease policy of local communities; Training human resources in ecotourism

the world. Confirming the type of ecotourism is responsible for environment

development; building infrastructure in the park area to attract investors,

conservation and to improve livelihood of local communities.

strengthening inspection and supervision of the forest environment lease

2. Forest environment lease for ecotourism business is piloted in a
number of National Parks in Vietnam and had certain results initially,
contributing to reduce the burden on the state budget, creating financial
sources to bring sustainable nature of National Park and attracting resources
of private sector to invest in forest development and protection.
3. In Vietnam, there has not been separate legislation of forest
environment lease for ecotourism business in National Park, creating a new legal
framework for the initial pilot implementation of this policy, however the policy
is revealed many limitations and inadequacies and have not met the practical
requirements.
4. The policy of forest environement lease for ecotourism business in
National Park should focus on the following contents: definition of policy
objectives, ensuring main contents of policy (objects, limitation, price, limit,
fund management and use, the rights and obligations of each party, order,
procedure, contract transfer, implementation of activities, monitor, inspection
for lease.
5. The solutions of formulation and implementation of forest environment
lease policy for ecotourism business in life needd to focus on addressing the

organization and ensuring legality and stricture of forest environment leases; coordination and benefit sharing with local governments.