In 2014, all localities were assigned a task of returning 5 million mu of farmland to forest and grassland
According to news from the Ministry of Finance website, on September 25, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the State Forestry Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Land and Resources, in accordance with the overall scale of the new round of returning farmland to forest and grassland approved by the State Council and the 2014 task arrangements, and in light of the sloping farmland above 25 degrees in various localities and the task application situation, issued the "Notice on Issuing the Annual Tasks for Returning Farmland to Forest and Grassland in 2014" (Fa Gai Xi Bu [2014] No. 2155), assigning a 2014 task of returning farmland to forest of 5 million mu to Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
The notice proposed that the 2014 task arrangements for returning farmland to forest and grassland must be based on the 2013 annual land change survey results and the township (town) general land use plan, and strictly limited to non-basic farmland sloping farmland above 25 degrees; farmers' wishes must be fully respected to ensure that farmers' livelihoods are not affected; priority should be given to places that meet the conditions for returning farmland, have high public enthusiasm, and have fully prepared preliminary work; and arrangements should focus on river and lake sources and around lakes and reservoirs, with preference given to earthquake disaster areas and other areas prone to geological disasters.
⟦NL> The notice required that all localities carefully organize implementation, formulate implementation plans in light of farmers' wishes, do a good job in operation design, and select suitable tree (grass) species in light of conditions such as the development of characteristic industries; organize the supply of seedlings well, strictly implement according to the implementation plan and technical standards, and ensure project quality; formulate complete acceptance management measures, conduct timely inspection and acceptance, and pay cash subsidies.
The notice emphasized that all provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) must, in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice on Issuing the Overall Plan for the New Round of Returning Farmland to Forest and Grassland" (Fa Gai Xi Bu [2014] No. 1772), promptly complete provincial-level implementation plans for returning farmland to forest and grassland, do a good job in advance in declaring the 2015 planned tasks, and promptly summarize good practices and experience in the implementation process and solve problems in implementation.