Analysis On The Impact Of Returning Farmland To Forest Policy On Farmers’ Livelihood Capital

The conversion of farmland to forest project,which began in 1999,is the largest investment,the widest coverage and the most afforestation project in human history.Since the implementation of the project for more than 20 years,it has produced huge ecological,social and economic effects.In order to provide subsidies at the livelihood level for farmers returning farmland and ensure that the normal income and expenditure level of farmers returning farmland to forests is not affected by returning farmland to forests,the government has established a supporting ecological compensation mechanism.As an institutional attempt to restore and improve the ecological environment and gradually eliminate poverty,ecological compensation has helped to promote the project of returning farmland to forest to a certain extent.In the new development stage,returning farmland to forest is also facing new problems,especially the livelihood capital of the majority of farmers returning farmland to forest.If it is not properly solved,it is bound to affect the sustainability of the returning farmland to forest project,and new problems may break out at the same time.This study takes Hanshou County,Hunan Province as the research sample area,uses DFID sustainable livelihood capital framework as the analysis model,constructs farmers’ comprehensive livelihood capital index framework,analyzes the impact of returning farmland to forest on Farmers’ livelihood capital,and puts forward policy suggestions to deepen the project of returning farmland to forest.The main conclusions of this study are as follows:(1)In terms of livelihood capital of different types of farmers,human capital and material capital are relatively rich,other capital is relatively small,and financial capital is the least.After farmers participate in the conversion of farmland to forests,their material capital,natural capital and human capital are generally better than those of non conversion farmers.The agricultural land area of conversion farmers is reduced,the forest land area is increased,and the per capita annual income and subsidy income are increased.Because non conversion farmers are mainly engaged in traditional agricultural operations,they have no diversified operation investment,and their deposit amount is higher than that of conversion farmers.In terms of the proportion of family(left behind)labor force,farmers returning farmland are also in a relatively low position.(2)In terms of livelihood strategies of returning farmland farmers,the overall income level of returning farmland farmers has been improved through government subsidies,forest land management and going out to work.At the same time,the rigid expenditure of returning farmland farmers has generally increased,especially in energy,education and other aspects.In terms of family labor allocation,farmers returning farmland have been transformed into labor resources in other fields,and their occupations show a diversified trend.