THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Circular No. 10/2014/TT-BNNPTNT dated March 26, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on criteria for defining buffer zones of special-use forests and protection belt of marine protected areas
Pursuant to Decree No. 199/2013/ND-CP dated November 26, 2013 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Pursuant to Decree No. 57/2008/ND-CP dated May 02, 2008 of the Government promulgating the Regulation on management of Vietnam’s marine protected areas with national and international important;
Pursuant to Decree No. 117/2010/ND-CP dated December 24, 2010 of the Government on management organization of special-use forest system;
At the request of General Director of Vietnam Administration of Forestry and Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries;
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby issues Circular on criteria for defining buffer zones of special-use forests and protection belt of marine protected areas;
Article 1. Scope of regulation
This Circular stipulates the criteria for defining buffer zones of special-use forests and protection belt of marine protected areas (hereafter referred to as buffer zones) in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
1. National parks, nature reserves, habitat/species management areas, landscape protection areas under the regulations of law on forest protection and development;
2. National parks, habitat/species management areas, aquatic nature reserves as prescribed by law on fisheries;
Article 2. Subjects of application
This Circular applies to domestic agencies, organizations, hamlet communities, households and individual and foreign organizations and individuals that are related to the definition of buffer zones.
Article 3. Purpose of definition of buffer zone
1. Buffer zones are forest, land, wetland, coastal-island land and marine areas adjacent to special use forests and/or marine protected areas located within the boundaries of the special-use forests or adjacent to the boundaries of special-use forests or marine protected areas. Buffer zones include external and internal buffer zone;
a) Internal buffer zone is within the boundaries of special-use forests;
b) External buffer zone is adjacent to the outside boundaries of special-use forests and marine protected areas;
2. Buffer zones can prevent or mitigate the harmful impacts on special-use forests and marine protected areas; attract people to participate in the activities of special-use forests and marine protected areas under co-management method to gradually improve and stabilize the lives of people in the buffer zones.
Article 4. Criteria for defining buffer zones
1. Criteria for defining internal buffer zones
The definition of internal buffer zones must meet the following criteria:
a) Areas with hamlet communities and residential groups stably living before establishment of special-use forests; having no conditions for immigrant resettlement out of special-use forests; having long-term plan for stabilizing inhabitants in place in accordance with planning of special-use forest;
b) The area inside the buffer zone shall be determined on the basis of the current state of land and water surface actually used of the households stably living and cultivating before establishment of special-use forest, but not exceeding a maximum of 10% of total area of ​​special-use forests.
2. Criteria for defining the external buffer zone of special-use forest
The definition of external buffer zone of special-use forest must meet the following criteria:

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