Study On Economic Effect Of Returning Farming Land To Forestry Land In Periphery Region Of Sichuan Basin

Sichuan Province was one of the earliest that returning land for farming to forestry project (hereinafter the project) was put in practice. The effect has relationship with not only the economic and social issues of farmers who go into the project but also the downstream area of Yangtze River. On the base of collecting the research findings of predecessors, the author inspects the economic effect of the project of the periphery of Sichuan Basin by analyzing the monitoring data of the project of 12 counties with PRA method. Some achievements are gained as follow:1 The author takes the Chaotian district for example to elementarily analyze the economic effect caused by the project. It is concluded that the project promotes the economic growth, drives the industrial restructuring, transfers the labor force from country, brings new income for country and helps the forestry to develop. The policy of the project lightens the burden of farmer. The local finance and farmer's life are not influenced by the project.2 Comparative analysis of economic effect between farmers going into the project and not is carried through by direct analysis method. The forestry and animal husbandry of farmers who going into the project develop more with the project. The policy subsidy and other non-agricultural income become the main of the country income. The net income per person increased 15.7% from 2003 to 2004. The forestry returning from farmland contributes more to the forestry income gradually becausethe forest product from returned-land increases year by year--132.4% from 2003 to2004.3 It is considered by comparative analysis to the effect of 2003 's and 2004's that the economy is growing; the gross domestic product is improving gradually; industrial structure is optimizing. The economic benefit of returned-land increases year by year-near double, especially in Nanbu County almost 30 times, which is the reasoncaused the growth of gross domestic product and optimize of industrial structure. 4 The author compared the economic effect between the East and the West where difference was being due to the natural condition, work outgoing and population quality etc. The East gives priority to the primary industry and third industry, which rate of increment are 23.95% and 24.26%, while the West primary industry and second industry, which rate of increment are 21.04% and 26.41%. The fruit, medicinal materials and dry fruit are predominant in the East, which rates of increment are 936.58%, 56.24% and 35.38%, while bamboo and pasture in the West with rates of increment of 84.7% and 35.53%. The economic effect in the West is not so outstanding as the East due to the geographical environment, climate factor, population quality and so on.In summary, the project in periphery of Sichuan Basin brings evident social economic effect. According to the practical situation, different policy and measures should be adjusted to local conditions to ensure the implement of the project.