CIRUM Board evaluation of the first 6 months of 2019

• On June 30, 2019, the CIRUM Board held a meeting at CIRUM office for evaluation of the first 6 months of 2019 and its strategic direction for the coming years.
  At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Su - CIRUM Deputy Director reported the Centre’s performance in the first 6 months. CIRUM has focused on programs such as: Piloting the implementation of the Law on Forestry 2017 (Item 4, Article 108) on the review of natural forests to allocate forestland to households and communities in Sin Cheng commune of Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province; Supporting resettled communities to get access to and understand the laws and policies related to resettlement; Building a model of medicinal bath of Red Dao ethnic people at Sai Duan village, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province; Piloting Nep Xua social enterprise model as well as sharing advantages and difficulties in the implementing process and orientation in the future.
   
  CIRUM representative presents activities and results
   
  After hearing the report, all the Board members highly appreciated CIRUM's performance results in the first 6 months of 2019. It was assessed that all CIRUM activities have been conducted according to the philosophy, objectives and charter of the organization.
  Ms. Pham Thi Suu - Board member commented: CIRUM worked very effectively, so the Centre should continue and promote its activities. In order to implement the Forestry Law, CIRUM collaborated with Lao Cai province for good results, which should be replicated and introduced to MARD for further enforcement of this Law. This is a model for other provinces to study and apply. Regarding the model of Sai Duan, there should be a written record to ensure community knowledge and data ownership, to continue consultancy for improving management, accounting, tourism operations, so that people preserve landscape and maintain their identity in a good manner. Regarding resettlement, it is seen as a difficult and sensitive issue. People need legal advice and pilot models for resettlement livelihood in the next phase.
  Mr. Lu Van Que - Chairman of CIRUM Board commented: CIRUM has been working very well in the past 6 months, and I agree with the orientation with CIRUM. We already have Lao Cai provincial guidance on forest review in accordance with the Forestry Law. So, to promote this activity, we should find ways to replicate in other localities. Land and forest allocation (LFA) for communities and households is currently not strong. Therefore, we should help ethnic minority communities to have a voice to contribute to the revision of the Land Law in association with the rights of free resettled households (people who do not have residential land or productive land). Failure to resolve the LFA for the people, their life will be unstable.
  At the end of the meeting, the CIRUM Board members agreed that, CIRUM will continue to carry out activities in the coming time, such as: i) Continue to promote cooperation with the General Department of Forestry to organize a workshop on enforcement of Article 108 of the Forestry Law 2017; ii) Continuing to advocate and contribute to amend and improve the Land Law, especially forest land, and LFA for free resettled people and households, so that they have forests and land; iii) Agree with the orientation of CIRUM on social enterprise development; iv) Regarding the model of the Red Dao at Sai Duan village, there should be a written acknowledgment of CIRUM's contribution. Simultaneously, CIRUM should continue supporting training courses to improve executive capacity, calculation and tourism skills for the community members; register to establish a cooperative group or legal entity; v) The Board members agree to maintain CIRUM Advisory Board.