In order to maintain the 1.8 billion mus (15
mus = 1 hectare) of farmland needed during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, Chinese officials
opted to shelve former plans to restore 20 million mus of
farmland to forests, after just 4 million mus were
converted in 2006.
The State Council has instead issued a notice on optimizing the
policy for returning farmland to forests. The notice explained that
in order to keep farmland from dipping below 1.8 billion
mus, the original plan will be halted until further
notice.
The notice aims to solve the living difficulties facing some
farmers who found subsidies fell short of their needs after
converting their land. The notice stated clearly that the state
would continue to provide direct subsidies to the farmers who
returned their farmland to forests. After the expiration of food
and living subsidies, the central finance administration will
establish a fund to give cash subsidies within reason to the
farmers who returned their farmland to forests and help to solve
their current living difficulties.
The central finance administration will also establish a fund to
help cover the necessary expenses in areas converted to forests. It
will be used for constructing homes, rural energy construction and
relocation of people caused by the ecological needs in western
China, especially in those extremely poor areas. The administration
will carry out this fund plan for eight years beginning in 2008,
and then gradually transfer the responsibility to the
provinces.
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(China.org.cn by Zhang Ming'ai, September 12, 2007)