Study On Effects Of The Returning Farmland To Forest Project In Yan'an City

Taking the returning farmland to forest project in Yan'an City as the research object,this study carried out a comprehensive analysis on the results of implementing the returning farmland to forest project in the City by examining on the spot,interviewing farmers, consulting archiving data and statistical analysis in computer.Its main contents included regional distribution of the returning farmland to forest,area,forest category structure,tree species composition,grain production and cultivated land change,the cash of policy of national returning farmland to forest,the changes of farmers' income and the preservation results of returning farmland to forest and so on.Through investigation and analysis,main results are as follows:(1) Returning farmland to forest land in Yan'an City is mainly located in Baiyushan mountainous area and severe soil erosion region along the Yellow River.Baiyushan mountainous area(including Wuqi County,Zhidan County,Ansai County,Zichang County) implemented a total of 332,700 hm~2,accounting for 58%of the total area.The area along the Yellow River(including Yanchang County,Yanchuan County,Yichuan County) implemented 130,200 hm~2,accounting for 22%of the total area.A total of 88,800 hm~2in the central area was implemented,accounting for 15%of the total area and the area of 28,400 hm~2in the south forest region accounted for 5%of the total area.(2) The area of returning farmland to forest in Yan'an City was 582,000 hm~2 in total.The area of converting farmlands into forest was 334,900 hm~2,afforestation in barren hills was 245,100 hm~2,closed hillsides was 2,000 hm~2.The projects mainly implemented in 1999,2000, 2003.(3) Ecological,social,economic benefits are very clear since the implementation of returning farmland to forest.Forest and grass coverage increased by 15 percentage points and the comprehensive control of soil erosion increased by 25 percentage points.Great changes have taken place in transportation,education,the transfer of surplus labor force and infrastructure has improved,which have received clear social benefits.The income of agricultural industry has accounted for 57%of per capita net income of the city's farmers.The income of labor transfer was 886,000,000yuan,accounting for 28%of household income,and the labor force engaging in secondary and tertiary industries accounted for 20%of the workforce.The labor economy as wage income has become an important source of farmers' income.Returning farmland to forest grants accounted for 27.3%in per capita income of farmers in the city.(4) The implementation of returning farmland to forest project was mainly based on ecological forest.Ecological forest,economic forest,grassland accounted for 83%,11%,6% of the total project respectively.(5) Basic farmland went up from 157,300 hm~2 in 1998 to 215,300 hm~2 in 2005,totally repairing 58,000hm~2.Grain production increased from 586,900t in 1997 to 745,000t in 2005.(6) There are still 24,010 returning farmland household in the city(accounting for 9.8% of the farmers),which impact on the consolidation of returning farmland to forest.The Main problems are the lack of basic farmland,uneven fields,the shortage of farmland to individual farmers,more people and less land,followed by a weak economic foundation.There are also other problems,such as backward concept of farmers,the lack of the necessary skills to survive,without a stable income source.(7) Returning farmland to forest in Yan'an City made remarkable achievements,which were closely related to the attention of the governments at all levels and the unity and cooperation of cadres and the masses who worked hard and in unison.Especially they made a series of policies and measures to protect the returning farmland to forest project carried out effectively.(8) The area verification rate of returning farmland to forest was 100%each year since 1999 which totally completed the national plan.Preservation rate was higher than acceptance standard of state regulations.