HANOI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Individuals or organizations who are found to cause damage to trees in Vietnam will be fined up to 30 million Vietnamese dong (1,300 U.S. dollars) under a new government decree from Monday.

The fine ranges from 500,000 Vietnamese dong to 1 million Vietnamese dong for activities such as nailing trees, picking flowers, cutting branches and peeling tree barks, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The same fine is imposed for building illegal fences around trees along streets, in parks or other public areas; grazing animals and poultry in parks; and hanging lights or advertising boards on trees in public places without permission.

An administrative fine of 10-15 million Vietnamese dong will be levied on violations such as dumping household, toxic or construction wastes on the foot of trees, damaging and hindering the development of trees in urban areas and growing banned trees without the permission of authorized agencies.

Those who are caught cutting, removing or burning tree roots or digging the foot of the trees will be fined 20-30 million Vietnamese dong.