The Development Process, Current Situation and Prospects of the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project in China

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2022.01.014

Abstract

Abstract:

The Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project is the most symbolic and globally important ecological engineering effort to build the human and natural life community. After the call and mobilization stage since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the first round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses occurred at the end of the 20th century. With the second round of Conversion of Farmland to Forests And Grasses launched in 2014, the central government has invested 535.3 billion yuan altogether by 2020, and 34.83 million ha have been returned to forest and grassland in 25 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) (2435 counties included). Among them, 14.23 million ha were returned from farmland; barren hills and wasteland afforestation accounted for 17.53 million ha; and sealed mountain forest cultivation represented 3.07 million ha, accounting for 40% of the total afforestation area of national key projects in the same period, and 41 million households and 158 million farmers benefited directly. The project construction has made great achievements. The total value of ecological benefits has reached 1.42 trillion yuan, plus economic benefits of 0.26 trillion yuan, and social benefits of 0.73 trillion yuan, for a total amount of 2.41 trillion yuan. This effort has made outstanding contributions toward building an ecological civilization and a beautiful China. Looking forward to the future, the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses will embark on a new stage of high-quality development, which will strive to achieve high-quality construction, high efficiency and a high level of management. China will promote the third round of conversion of farmland to forest and grassland from 2021 to 2035, and it is expected to return 6.67 million ha to forests and grasses.

Key words: Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses, development process, current situation, construction achievement, strategic task

LI Shidong, LIU Moucheng. The Development Process, Current Situation and Prospects of the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project in China[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2022, 13(1): 120-128.

Figures/Tables 4

References 18

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Program	Arable land converted to forest and grass	The barren hills and wasteland found suitable for afforestation	Mountains sealed up for cultivating the forests	Total
The first round	926.7	1746.7	306.7	2980.1
The second round	496.7	6.6	0	503.3
Total	1423.4	1753.3	306.7	3483.4

Program	Arable land converted to forest and grass	The barren hills and wasteland found suitable for afforestation	Mountains sealed up for cultivating the forests	Total
The first round	926.7	1746.7	306.7	2980.1
The second round	496.7	6.6	0	503.3
Total	1423.4	1753.3	306.7	3483.4

No.	Program	Material quantity	Economic value (10⁸ yuan yr^-1)	Proportion (%)
1	Water conservation	440.05 (10⁸ m³ yr^‒1)	4630.22	32.68
2	Purifying the atmospheric environment	54019.09 (10⁴t yr^‒1)	3101.75	21.89
3	Carbon fixation and oxygen release	18837.08 (10⁴t yr^-1)	2230.16	15.74
4	Biodiversity conservation	-	2067.47	14.59
5	Preserving conservation	73834.25 (10⁴t yr^-1)	1298.51	9.16
6	Forest protection	83725.00 (10⁴t yr^-1)	654.35	4.62
7	Trees will accumulate nutrients	121.34 (10⁴t yr^-1)	186.17	1.31
8	Total	-	14168.64	100.00

No.	Program	Material quantity	Economic value (10⁸ yuan yr^-1)	Proportion (%)
1	Water conservation	440.05 (10⁸ m³ yr^‒1)	4630.22	32.68
2	Purifying the atmospheric environment	54019.09 (10⁴t yr^‒1)	3101.75	21.89
3	Carbon fixation and oxygen release	18837.08 (10⁴t yr^-1)	2230.16	15.74
4	Biodiversity conservation	-	2067.47	14.59
5	Preserving conservation	73834.25 (10⁴t yr^-1)	1298.51	9.16
6	Forest protection	83725.00 (10⁴t yr^-1)	654.35	4.62
7	Trees will accumulate nutrients	121.34 (10⁴t yr^-1)	186.17	1.31
8	Total	-	14168.64	100.00

Program	Item	Economic value (10⁸ yuan yr^-1)	Proportion (%)
Primary industry	Subtotal	1483.05	58.05
	Value of economic forest products	842.23
	Wood and bamboo mining value	187.07
	Underforest planting value	366.30
	Value of underforest breeding	87.45
Second industry	Subtotal	654.55	25.62
	Wood processing value	349.94
	Manufacturing value of forest production and chemical products	63.72
	Wood-derived oil, fruits and vegetables, tea drinks, etc. Processing and manufacturing value	203.66
	Processing value of forest medicinal materials	37.24
Third industry	Subtotal	417.32	16.33
	Forestry production service value	111.58
	Forestry professional and technical service value	29.86
	Value of ecological tourism and forest health care services	275.88
Total		2554.93	100.00