Research On The Sustainability Of Cropland To Forest Land Program

Since1999, the Conversion of Cropland to Forest Land Program （CCFP） hasmade great achievement. However, with the program progressing, the sustainability ofCCFP has become increasingly prominent. In this paper, from farmers behavior angle,we define the sustainability of CCFP, build up farmer household’s utility function andlogistic model to study the influential factors of the sustainability of CCFP boththeoretically and empirically, and finally make some policy suggestions. Theconclusions are as follows:(1) If the compensation for reforestation is cancelled, farmerwill be much less willing to participate in CCFP and the possibility of re-cultivation willbe high.(2) Most farmers’ are uncertain about re-cultivating or not. Those with highlabor opportunity cost, steep slope of conversion land, asked their advice by the forestrysector before the implementation of the project and satisfied with their lives, are lesslikely to re-cultivate the conversion land.(3) Farmers are passive in woodlandmanagement. The management contract exert a primary impact on farmers’ behavior inmanaging woodland, meanwhile, the labor opportunity make a great effect on farmers’behavior in managing woodland as an individual, but has little effect on farmers’behavior as a collective.(4) Profits of woodland are too tiny to motivate farmers. Then,we make some proposals:(1) The government should extend the compensation periodof CCFP to consolidate the achievements.(2) Set up and improve the ecologicalcompensation system, compensate farmers according to trees’ growth stage and itsecological benefits, in order to lower the risk of farmers managing woodland.(3) Forestright certificate should be delivered to every farmer household. Meanwhile，nurturingthe circulation market for forest right, reinforcing efforts to support farmers withwoodland management technically and financially to increase the income of woodland.(4) Strengthen government leadership and encourage enterprise to participate in thesame time. What’s more, attach importance to the signing of woodland managingcontract.