|
|
Household’s willingness to accept about conversion of farmland into forest program in ecological barrier zone of Three Gorges Reservoir Area |
|
|
Abstract Households’ willingness to accept (WTA) about conversion of farmland into forest program (CFFP) was investigated in depth by participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in ecological barrier zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. Ecological benefits of the past CFFP were approved generally, but the sustainability was worrisome. Among 1355 samples, most peasants (74.0%) agree to accept the next CFFP with subsidy. The peasants who had low relevance between future life and farmland prefer to returning farmland. WTA presents obvious social heterogeneity and regional difference. According to the general regression model analysis, it was found that interviewee’s gender, education level, household’s farmland area, annual income, expectant compensation forms and whether migrant or not were closely correlated with the willingness value. Average WTA in the ecological barrier zone is 1014 Yuan/mu.Year. WTA of Wanzhou, Zigui, and Yubei are higher than the mean level. Based on the above research, it is concluded that there are shortcomings in uniform standards and manners of payment for environmental services (PES) in China. Standards of PES based on region and diversified compensation modes should be established to promote CFFP and regional sustainable development.
|
Received: 20 November 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|