Contribution of Forestry to Poverty Alleviation - APFNet

year and his national special care subsidy is about US$ 443.16. These compensation and subsidy meet
his family’s basic needs and their life has improved a lot. His family has bought a large 25-inch color
televsision set. The old man now is in high spirits.
The Ledu case shows that CCFP has contributed a lot toward improving farmers’ lives. First, CCFP has
changed the mode of production of local farmers. A large number of farmers have gotten out of farming
work to obtain a job outside the county, which broadens their income sources. Second, the vegetation
is protected, the ecosystem and environment improved, and the scale of natural disasters reduced
significantly. Third, farmers’ morale has changed and they are now in high spirits. Rural civilization has
also been promoted. Before CCFP, the women in the village knew nothing about the “Women’s Festival”.
But now, such movies are shown in the village, and women dine together to celebrate their holiday.
Outlook for Forestry and Poverty Alleviation
Year of 2011 is the starting year of the Twelfth Five Plan of National Economic and Social Development
(2011-2015) (The “Twelfth Five” Plan) and the key year of China’s poverty alleviation. Markedly
reducing the poor population is one of the targets of the “Twelfth Five” Plan. The Outline of China’s
Poverty Alleviation in Rural Area (2011-2020) (The Outline) aims to eliminate extreme poverty in
the next 10 years and is the first task in China. The target is to notably decrease the poor population
in 2015 and eliminate extreme poverty in 2020. Large areas with concentrated poor populations are
especially considered as major areas for poverty alleviation and more funds should be invested in
those areas.
In China, the poor area is basically the forest region or area of NKFPs. During the “Twelfth-Five
Year,” Chinese forestry development with ecosystem maintenance and protection as the main body
of strategy intends to fully implement forest tenure reform, formulate more preferential policies
on developing forests, and promote the beneficial interaction between ecosystem maintenance and
forestry industrial development for enriching people through forest development. Therefore, the
forest region continues to be the key area and forest farmers the main object for poverty alleviation
in China. The development of forestry is forecast to contribute to China’s poverty alleviation much
directly, more so in the next five years.
First is the construction of “ten ecological forest-belts” with component activities in controlling
desertification, combating and preventing the natural hazards from windy sand, mountain torrents,
and mudslides in major ecologically fragile areas. This is planned to ensure the country’s ecological
security and improve the environment where poor populations live during the “Twelfth-Five”
period.
Second is developing “ten leading forestry industries” to increase farmers’ income, ensure and improve
people’s living conditions in the “Twelfth-Five” period. The main measures involve supporting the
leading forestry industries to gradually strengthen forestry’s role in assisting farmers and developing
counties, and contributing to the national economy. The Forestry Rejuvenation Program (2010-2012)
emphasizes optimization of the forestry structure and reinforces forestry’s role in the employment and
income growth of farmers, targeting 57 million employees in forestry in 2012.
Third is to comprehensively start forest tenure reform to stimulate the development of the forestry
industry and alleviate poverty in forest region in the period of “Twelfth-Five.” Main components include
further implementing CFTR, commencing the pilot reform of state-owned forestry farms, continuing
the steady reform of key state forest regions by protecting and cultivating forest resources to create
jobs, and building up a social security system to increase employment and improve the social welfare
of people in the forest region.
Fourth is to improve forestry policies that will lead to people’s increased incomes through forestry
development. In the period of “Twelfth-Five,” the government will reinforce its support to forestry
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