APPROVAL FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MONITORING NETWORKS FOR 2016 – 2026, WITH A VISION TO 2030

Article 1. Grant approval for a master plan for national natural resources and environment monitoring networks for 2016 – 2025 with a vision to 2030 (hereinafter referred to as the master plan) as follows:

1. National natural resources and environment monitoring networks under the master plan shall ensure maximum integration of all areas, inheriting, taking full advantage of existing technical and material bases and personnel of which hydrometeorological monitoring networks are the key.

2. Natural resources and environment monitoring networks should ensure consistence, progressiveness, modernity and comprehensiveness; speed up modernization of technology and equipment for monitoring, analyzing, transmitting and handling information oriented toward digitalization and automation on the basis of application of information technology at home and opening to advanced technologies abroad.

3. National natural resources and environment monitoring networks are an open, continuous system being supplemented, upgraded and completed, connected and sharing information from central to local government under consistent management by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

4. Implement step-by-step training to enhance quality of human resources, ensure management and operation of an advanced, modern natural resources and environment networks meet provision of basic figures and information about natural resources and environment across the country, effectively serving natural resources and environment management tasks;

5. Investment and construction of new networks should accord with socio-economic conditions in each period. Investment and construction in the immediate future shall be guaranteed by state budget sources (central and local budgets); following stages shall be guaranteed by other legal financial sources based on partial private sector involvement in monitoring activity.

1. General targets

Construct a national natural resources and environment monitoring networks ensuring uniformity, modernity, and comprehensiveness; reaching top level in South East Asia and advanced level in Asia; meeting demands for basic survey information for state administration on natural resources of water, soil, sea and islands, hydrometeorology, environmental protection and socio-economic development; serving activities of forecasting, warning, preventing and minimizing damage caused by natural disasters and environment pollution, responses to climate change;

2. Particular targets

a) 2016 – 2020 period:

- Upgrade and modernize existing natural resources and environment monitoring stations; put into operation at least half of monitoring stations, points expected to be constructed with much importance attached to areas or monitoring factors having pressing demands to serve forecasting, warning, natural disaster prevention and combat, environmental protection; including:

+ 1,035 monitoring stations: Existing: 671 stations (of which 48 stations have been upgraded), new: 364 stations;

+ 4,951 monitoring points: Existing: 1,877 points (of which 449 points have been upgraded), new: 3,074 points;

+ 1,146 monitoring works: Existing: 735 works, new: 411 works;

- Strengthen capacity of communications between monitoring stations, natural resources and environment data processing and managing centers; establish, manage and effectively exploit natural resources and environment monitoring database; upgrade and modernize natural resources and environment data processing and managing centers, laboratories serving monitoring networks;

b) 2021 – 2025 period:

- Complete construction and put into operation new monitoring stations, points and factors in the master plan, national natural resources and environment monitoring networks reaching top level in South East Asia and advanced level in Asia, including:

+ 1,312 monitoring stations: Existing: 1.035 stations (of which 52 station have been upgraded), new: 277 stations;

+ 5,847 monitoring points: Existing: 4,951 points (of which 33 points have been upgraded), new: 896 points;

+ 1,557 monitoring works: Existing: 1146 works, new: 411 works;

- Complete upgrading of laboratories, modernization of processing centers, natural resources and environment database ensuring consistent, systematic and highly reliable information;

c) A vision to 2030;

Natural resources and environment monitoring system, modern and reaching top level in South East Asia, integrating with the region and the world shall be composed of:

- 1,545 monitoring stations: Existing: 1312 stations (of which 59 station have been upgraded), new: 233 stations;

- 6,347 monitoring points: Existing: 5,847 points (of which 23 points have been upgraded), new: 500 points;

- 1,557 monitoring works:

1. The master plan is confined to the scope of monitoring networks that works consistently in the long run and is capable of combining areas of hydrometeorology, natural resources of water, environment, sea and islands, remote sensing, GPS satellite and geodynamic monitoring networks. Monitoring stations of specific characteristics such as soil resources monitoring, landslide monitoring shall be supplemented in each separate projects.

2. This master plan does not include monitoring stations of specific characteristics that serve demands of ministries, sectors, localities and businesses.

1. Hydrometeorological monitoring networks:

- Surface meteorological monitoring networks are constructed on the basis of maintaining, upgrading and modernizing 194 stations, 14 radiation stations, 29 agro-meteorological stations. Make adjustments and supplements, bringing total number of monitoring stations, points to 2030 as 454 surface meteorological stations, 18 radiation stations, 34 climate change monitoring stations, two global meteorological stations and 79 agro-meteorological stations;

- Independent precipitation measurement networks shall be constructed on the basis of maintaining and modernizing 755 existing points and supplementing missing points, bringing total number of monitoring points to 2030 as 4,304 points;

- Aero meteorological monitoring networks shall be constructed on the basis of maintaining and upgrading 24 stations: Seven weather radar stations, six aero wireless sensors, eight pilot stations, three ozone – ultraviolet radiation station; Make adjustments and supplements to missing stations, bringing total number of monitoring stations to 2030 as 76 stations: 21 weather radar stations, 11 aero wireless sensors, eight pilot stations, four ozone – ultraviolet radiation station, 18 lightening positioning stations and 14 wind measuring stations;

- Hydrographical monitoring networks shall be constructed on the basis of maintaining, upgrading and modernizing 354 existing stations and supplementing a number of missing stations, bringing total number of monitoring stations to 2030 as 640 stations.

- Meteorological and oceanographical monitoring networks shall be constructed on the basis of maintaining, upgrading and modernizing 23 existing stations and supplementing a number of missing stations, bringing total number of monitoring stations to 2030 as 77 stations.

- Air and water monitoring networks integrated into the hydrometeorological station shall be constructed on the basis of maintaining, upgrading and modernizing 27 air environment monitoring stations (one station integrated into Hanoi hydrographical station), 56 river, lake water environment monitoring stations, six sea water environment monitoring stations and 91 salinity measurement points. Make adjustment and supplements to a number of missing stations, points, bringing total number of monitoring stations, points to 2030 as 32 air environment monitoring stations, 88 river, lake water environment monitoring stations, 17 sea water environment monitoring stations and 163 salinity measurement points;

Monitoring factors, frequency at each station, point are detailed in technical standards, regulations.

Lists of hydrometeorological monitoring stations, points are mentioned in Annex I enclosed herewith.

2. Water resources monitoring networks:

- Sea water resources monitoring networks to 2030 shall reach 56 stations, 113 stations being integrated into hydrographical station;

- Master plan for monitoring networks for natural resources and environment of underground water to 2030 shall comprise 71 stations, 778 points and 1,557 monitoring works;

Lists of water resources monitoring stations, points and works are mentioned in Annex II enclosed herewith.

3. Environmental monitoring networks

- Environmental monitoring networks shall be integrated into hydrometeorological monitoring networks and water resources monitoring networks:

+ Integrating 32 air environment monitoring stations (including 10 automatic stations) with meteorological monitoring networks, 85 surface water environment monitoring stations with hydrographical monitoring networks and 17 sea water environment monitoring stations with oceanographical monitoring networks;

+ Integrating 778 underground water environment monitoring points with underground water resources and environment monitoring networks;

- Independent environmental monitoring stations:

Master plan for environmental monitoring networks to 2030 shall comprise 12 national environmental monitoring stations, 46 automatic air environment monitoring points, 99 periodical air environment monitoring points, 45 automatic surface water environment monitoring points, 409 periodical surface water environment monitoring points, 47 estuary environment monitoring points, 54 coastal sea water environment monitoring points, 23 acid deposition monitoring points, 248 soil environment monitoring points, 44 biodiversity monitoring points, 10 lake water environment monitoring points.

Lists of environmental monitoring stations, points are mentioned in Annex III enclosed herewith.

4. Sea natural resources and environment monitoring networks:

Sea natural resources and environment monitoring networks to 2030 shall comprise 32 natural resources and environment stations, 25 sea radar stations, 35 marine buoy stations. Monitoring factors and regime are detailed in technical regulations.

Lists of sea natural resources and environment monitoring stations are mentioned in Annex IV enclosed herewith.

GPS satellite and geodynamic monitoring networks to 2030 shall comprise 65 GPS satellite stations, 73 geodynamic monitoring stations.

Lists of GPS satellite stations and geodynamic monitoring stations, points are mentioned in Annex V enclosed herewith.

6. Remote sensing networks:

Upgrade existing remote sensing stations in Hanoi and construct one satellite imaging station in Ho Chi Minh City; To 2030, two satellite imaging stations shall have been constructed, stations receiving data from SPORT 6/7 satellites, LANDSAT satellites (US), SENTINEL satellites (EU) upgraded.

Lists of remote sensing stations are mentioned in Annex VI enclosed herewith.

7. Toxic mineral deposits monitoring networks:

Toxic mineral deposits monitoring networks to 2030 shall comprise 39 monitoring stations for radioactive minerals deposits, radioactive containing deposits, one central monitoring station located in Hanoi (regional station).

Lists of toxic mineral deposits monitoring stations, points are mentioned in Annex VII enclosed herewith.

8. Laboratories:

Laboratories serving natural resources and environment monitoring tasks to 2030 shall comprise 10 laboratories.

Lists of laboratories are mentioned in Annex VIII enclosed herewith.

1. Key measures for implementation of the master plan

a) Complete policies and laws; strengthen apparatus organization:

- Establish and promulgate legislative documents, procedures, technical-economic norms relating to collection, handling, management and supply of data, information about natural resources and environment according to the agreed standards for enforcement across the country; Supplement and amend technical standards, regulations, and monitoring criteria consistently, meeting requirements of all natural resources and environment areas;

- Construct and complete organizational structure, management and leading apparatus; organize training to provide more qualified monitoring staff, technicians; Strengthen apparatus organization, personnel structure; fulfill functions and duties of the units belonging to natural resources and environment monitoring networks;

- Formulate mechanism, policies, legislative documents on private sector involvement in monitoring activities; check and supplement incentive policies for persons carrying out basic investigation about natural resources and environment, especially monitoring staff in remote, border and island areas;

- Formulate occupational criteria for natural resources and environment monitoring staff;

b) Carry out investment and construction of facilities, innovation of monitoring technologies:

- Invest and construct monitoring networks (complete construction, repair, renovation, upgrading) with focus on key economic regions, areas where natural resources and environment monitoring networks are missing or need to be made consistent, stations belonging to natural disaster forecasting and warning networks;

- Invest in technical and material bases, state-of-the-art facilities and technologies for activities of monitoring, communicating, handling, managing and supplying data and information about natural resources and environment;

- Invest in facilities for laboratories, analytical centers on natural resources and environment and training schools;

Innovation of technologies for monitoring, communicating, handling, managing and providing information and data marks an advance of great breakthrough yet requires concentration and focus in association with human resources training and change of preferential policies for persons performing monitoring tasks.

c) Study and apply scientific and technological achievements to human resources training:

- Strengthen study and application of scientific and technological achievements, especially technologies of monitoring, communicating, handling, managing and providing data and information about natural resources and environment; study and manufacture automatic monitoring equipment in accordance with the country’s natural, socio-economicconditions

- Study and innovate monitoring staff training programs oriented toward being more selective, ensuring trained staff are able to perform multiple monitoring types, some of them may become technicians;

- Focus efforts on re-training to enhance professional competence and workmanship of existing cadres, staff, technicians with much importance attached to improvement of practicing capacity of monitoring staff to meet operational requirements of individual monitoring stations, points and the entire networks;

d) Expand international cooperation:

Develop bilateral and multi-lateral international cooperation activities to take maximum advantage of international assistance in terms of finance, technology, human resources training, information communication, and experience of other countries in natural resources and environment monitoring;

dd) Intensify and diversify investment capital sources:

Diversify investment capital sources for natural resources and environment monitoring networks of which central and local budget sources play a key role; Mobilize to the maximum all capital sources from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, projects and businesses to upgrade and construct monitoring networks;

2. Resources to implement the master plan

a) Human resources:

Focus efforts on construction of a group of administrative officers and technical staff of good personal morality and high professional competence level, qualified to operate national natural resources and environment monitoring networks in accordance with the master plan, meeting requirements of the country’s new development period; prioritize training, re-training with the aim of enhancing quality of human resources; Total number of administrative officers and operational staff to 2020, 2025 and 2030 is expected to be 2,400, 2,700 and 3,000 respectively.

b) Expenditures for development investment:

Expenditures for development investment for the three stages shall be estimated in investment projects.

c) Expenditures for maintaining regular activities:

Maintaining operation of national natural resources and environment monitoring network shall basically meet requirements of state administration on natural resources and environment according to the master plan from now to 2030 and technical-economic norms shall be gradually formulated for the establishment of annual plans.

3. Assignments for implementation of the master plan

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and InvestmentPeople’s committeescentral-affiliated provinces, cities in establishing detailed plans for implementation of the master plan;

- Organize construction and operation of natural resources and environment monitoring stations within management of the Ministry;

- Establish and promulgate legislative documents, procedures, regulations, economic-technical norms, professional instructions on monitoring, communicating, handling, managing and supplying data and information about natural resources and environment within competence for enforcement across the country or make submission to competent authorities for promulgation; unify monitoring database; manage, integrate and supply information about natural resources and environment;

- Actively integrate and closely coordinate basic investigations with monitoring activities to enhance investment cost-efficiency;

- Provide data and information about natural resources and environment to ministries, departments, localities and units that have demands and publish such data and information to serve enhancement of intellectual standards, education and communications;

- Preside over and cooperate with relevant agencies in investigating, inspecting and regularly organizing partial and entire summing-ups to learn experience from the implementation of the master plan;

- Make annual reports to the Prime Minister on the implementation of this master plan;

b) The Ministry of Planning and Investment:

Based on this master plan and written proposals from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, ministries, departments and localities shall make submission to the Prime Minister for approval on development investment sources for complete construction of national natural resources and environment monitoring networks according to the approved plan;

c) The Ministry of Finance:

Based on this master plan and written proposals from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, ministries, departments and localities shall make submission to the Prime Minister for approval on non-business expenditure sources for procurement of facilities and operation of natural resources and environment monitoring networks according to the approved plan;

d) Relevant ministries, departments:

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in unifying and completing technical standards and regulations, methods of exchanging data and information about natural resources and environment applicable to monitoring stations, points managed by the ministries, departments;

- Organize implementation of natural resources and environment monitoring under this master plan and deliver data and information to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

dd) People’s committees of central-affiliated provinces and cities:

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in constructing and developing national natural resources and environment monitoring networks;

- Based on national natural resources and environment monitoring networks, direct the construction of local natural resources and environment monitoring networks in accordance with this master plan;

- Report monitoring results from stations, points managed and operated by localities to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

Article 2. This Decision takes effect since the signing date. This Decision supersedes Decision No. 16/2007/QD-TTg dated January 29, 2007 on approval for master plan for national natural resources and environment monitoring networks to 2020;

Article 3. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environmentshall be responsible for providing instructions and organizing the implementation of this master plan.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, presidents of People’s committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces shall be responsible for executing this Decision./.