Hu Yecui, Zheng Fangyu, Xu Shuang. Evaluation of ecological resettlement project effect in immigration regions in Guangxi[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering (Transactions of the CSAE), 2017, 33(17): 264-270. DOI: 10.11975/j.issn.1002-6819.2017.17.035
    Citation: Hu Yecui, Zheng Fangyu, Xu Shuang. Evaluation of ecological resettlement project effect in immigration regions in Guangxi[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering (Transactions of the CSAE), 2017, 33(17): 264-270. DOI: 10.11975/j.issn.1002-6819.2017.17.035

    Evaluation of ecological resettlement project effect in immigration regions in Guangxi

    • Abstract: Resettlement is a systematic and comprehensive program that addresses not only poverty alleviation, but also environmental degradation and human-environment relationships. The implementation of China's resettlement program has not only profoundly impacted ecological regeneration in out-migration regions, but ecological and economic conditions in in-migration regions. The success or failure of resettlement policies in relieving the tensions between people and land is bound to affect the localized progress of such national strategy. To assess the effects of the resettlement program, 4 evaluation elements directly articulated around the objectives of the resettlement program were distinguished, namely human, resources, economy and natural environment. The following questions were answered: Whether the program achieved what it intended to accomplish; whether the incomes of migrants and areas of land resources owned by migrants increased; whether the ecological environment in immigration regions had been deteriorated; whether the farmers were satisfied with the outcome of the program; whether there were differences between migrants and natives in terms of land resource areas, income levels, sources of income, and responses to environmental policy. From this perspective, this study assessed the migration effect in the in-migration areas and the sustainability. Applying participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method to a comprehensive evaluation framework, we surveyed migrant and native households in 30 in-migration villages in Karst areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, to compare their cultivated land, incomes, and attitudes to migrant policies and cognition to eco-environment change. The results indicated that the program had already made progress in harmonizing human-earth relationship, increasing the income of immigrants, improving comprehensive capacity of natural disaster resistance and effectively guaranteeing the implementations of reforestation policy. However, some issues were also found through this study, such as the large differences in area of land resources between the immigrants and the natives; the slower development of immigrants' economy compared with the natives; the environmental conditions impacted by a large number of immigrants; and land-use sustainability issue resulting from ecologically unsound farming practices. Studies suggest that not only should we pay attention to the environmental benefits, but also should pay attention to the balance between efficiency and equity issues. From the results of our investigation and analysis, it is apparent that there are a number of questions that are worth considering and resolving. In the future, government needs to be more empathetic toward the vital interests of farmers. Priority activities should include: Enhancing the evaluation on the carrying capacity of resources and environment in resettlement regions; acceleration of corresponding system construction and making systematic arrangements at operational level, such as the land allocation system and industrial policy support; and designing an appropriate environment and development model from the perspectives of scientific rationality, humanism, and the national culture to effectively meet ecological requirements and the economic interests of farmers. This will bring about the early realization of a resource-saving and environment-friendly industrial structure, and of a sustainable mode of economic growth. Results will provide evidence-based reference not only for China's poverty alleviation policy but also for ecological migration practice in other parts of the world.
    • loading

    Catalog

      /

      DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
      Return
      Return