Decision No., 08/2001/QD-TTg issuing the Regulation on the Management of Special-use Forest, Protection Forest and Production Forests, which are Natural Forests.

This Regulation provides for the creation, organization, management, use, maintenance, and conservation of Special-use Forests, Protection Forests and Production Forests. These types of forest are defined in article 1.
The Regulation is divided into 5 Chapters: General provisions (I); Special use Forests (II); Protection Forests (III); Production forests being natural forests (IV); Implementing provisions (V).
Chapter II makes provision for forests, which are, designed for the purpose of preserving nature, biodiversity, the ecosystems, and gene resources of fauna and flora, etc. This Chapter is divide into 2 parts. Part I provides for the organization and management of these kinds of forests of which 3 types exist: national gardens established to permanently protect one or more ecological systems, nature conservation zones which are natural land areas created to ensure "natural succession", and cultural, historical and environmental forests. There may also be created "functional sub-zones" and "buffer zones" for national gardens and nature conservation zones. This part also sets management responsibilities of Ministries and other authorities in respect of the areas specified. Part II of Chapter II provides rules relative to the creation, use and protection of special-use forests. There shall be 4 types of protection forests: headwater protection forests, protection forests to protect against soil erosion, to protect agriculture, etc., coastal protection forests, and forests to protect the environment, to prevent pollution, etc.
Chapter III is divided also into two parts; one to provide for organization and management of protection forests and one to provide for creation and use of protection forests.
Chapter IV concerns forests for the production of timber, bamboo and forest products. These production forests are forests of natural origin. Part I provides for the organization and management of such forests, whereas art II contains rules relative to forest industry and other use of these forests. Article 34 concerns the zoning for reasons of exploitation of production forests, whereas article 25 indicates the objects, which may be subject to exploitation.