The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will start charging fees for forest environmental services on a trial basis in several provinces as from January, 2009.
The MARD said the fee is targeted at businesses involving in forest-based tourism activities and water supply services in Central Highlands Lam Dong Province, northern mountainous Son La and Hoa Binh provinces, central Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces, southern Dong Nai Province and Ho Chi Minh City. Collections will be paid to watershed forest owners. After a two-year trial run, the fee will be widely applied nationwide with the aim of creating more fund for the protection of environment and ecosystems, improving the quality of service supply and ensuring water resource for power generation and tourism. According to Nguyen Huu Dung, deputy head of MARD’s Ranger Department, the forest plays an important role in regulating water resources and limit floods.
