Forests, Vol. 16, Pages 1671: Ecosystem Services Value of the Grain for Green Program in China—A Case Study of Five Representative Provinces

Forests doi: 10.3390/f16111671

Authors:
Mingju Jia
Tingyu Xu
Huijie Li

The Grain for Green Program (GGP), one of the world’s largest soil and water conservation initiatives, has been implemented in China as a representative payment for environmental service program. This study aims to evaluate the ecosystem service value (ESV) of forests established under the GGP in five representative provinces (Hebei, Liaoning, Hubei, Yunnan, Gansu), using a systematic methodology that integrates ecologic and economic dimensions for large-scale ecological projects. Between 1999 and 2013, a total of 717.67 × 104 ha of forests were established. Barren land served as the primary land source, with ecological forest being the dominant forest type within the program. The ESV assessment encompassed key services, including water conservation, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, nutrient retention, air quality improvements, and biodiversity improvements. Based on our estimates, the total annual ESV of the afforested areas under GGP in the five representative provinces is 3604.99 × 108 Yuan, with water conservation representing the largest share among all ecosystem services. Moreover, the cumulative ESV generated by these forests over the 14-year period exceeded the total payments made by the central government to farmers. To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the GGP, a more equitable cost–benefit sharing mechanism is recommended.

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Mingju Jia www.mdpi.com