Directive on Forest Management, Curbing Timber Extraction, Transport, and Export, and Conducting General Inspections of Responsibilities of Relevant Departments and Districts in Xieng Khouang Province for Approving Extraction, Collection, and Export of Timber

Article 1

Regarding forest management, curbing the extraction, collection, transport, and export of timber. 1.1 Government agencies at all levels, public officials, business operators, and the people of the entire province shall actively fulfill the obligation to protect forests, and curb and stop acts of destroying forests and forest land in various forms; in accordance with the Prime Minister's Order No. 15/ນຍ dated May 13, 2016, strengthen strict management and inspection of timber extraction, timber transport, and timber business. 1.2 The heads of county government agencies, departments, and bureaus are tasked with proactively conducting political and ideological education among public officials, enterprises, and people of all ethnic groups, enabling them to comprehend the Party's line, national laws, particularly the Forestry Law, and to understand, know, and actively protect forest-based natural resources for sustainability. 1.3 The heads of county government agencies and relevant departments and bureaus are tasked with leading the personnel of their respective units to exercise their rights and perform their duties in accordance with Part 3, Sections 1 and 2 of the Law on Public Officials No. 74/ສພຊ dated December 18, 2015, and to strictly adhere to the professional ethics of public officials in accordance with Section 4, Articles 59-83 of the same Law; if violations are detected, strict disciplinary action shall be taken in accordance with Part 4, Articles 72-76 of the Law on Public Officials. 1.4 Government agencies, departments, and bureaus at all levels must remain strict and shall not allocate timber extraction quotas to organizations, companies, individuals, or the people, nor permit the collection and gathering of branches, short logs, wind-fallen or dead trees, nor grant such to individuals under timber disposal policies; if violations are detected, strict disciplinary action shall be taken. 1.5 The transport of timber and non-timber forest products within the province, as well as the export of finished timber and non-timber forest products to foreign countries, shall be carried out in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Notification No. 0073/ກປ dated November 3, 2016. 1.6 Relevant industry departments are tasked with jointly reviewing the management and use of vehicles and machinery used for timber extraction, processing, hauling, and transport, ensuring strictness; if violations are detected, they must be handled in accordance with regulations and legal provisions, and order each company to withdraw all major machinery, vehicles, various equipment, and labor used for logging and timber hauling from the site; if any company, intermediary, or contractor engaged in logging or hauling still violates, law enforcement personnel shall pursue their liability in accordance with laws and regulations. 1.7 County chiefs, relevant law enforcement personnel, villages, and relevant departments are tasked with proactively tracking and inspecting bad elements intending to infiltrate protection forests, production forests, and protection forests for illegal logging and destruction, and strictly enforce measures within their duties, authorities, and scope of responsibility.