10. Grain-for-Green Policy and Its Achievements

The Chinese Grain-for-Green Policy began in April 1949. The policy was improved and perfected until implementation of the Grain-for-Green Project in 1999. Thus far, forest coverage has increased by an average of 3 % in the region covered by the policy. Trends toward ecological deterioration in some areas have been largely reversed and agricultural restructuring has been promoted. Wuqi County, a representative region of the policy coverage, has shown significant improvement in ecological restoration and agricultural production. Analysis has shown that the Grain-for-Green Policy was a compulsory regulation for required resources. The policy of financial compensation caused production operators to reduce their demand for resources, and the policy directly accelerated evolution of the ecological economic system in the region of implementation.