The state has invested more than 400 billion yuan in returning farmland to forests.

Up to now, the central government has invested a total of 405.66 billion yuan in 25 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) for the first round of the project of returning farmland to forests, and completed a total of 139 million mu of returned farmland for afforestation, supporting barren mountains for afforestation and 309 million mu of mountain closure for afforestation, involving 32 million households and 124 million farmers.

The reporter learned from the national experience exchange meeting on the work site of returning farmland to forest and grassland held on the 7th that in the first round of the project area of returning farmland to forest, the forest coverage rate increased by an average of more than 3 percentage points, the forest preservation rate reached 99 percent, and the harm of soil erosion and wind and sand was significantly reduced. Through the construction of basic rations fields and concentrated intensive farming, households have increased grain yield per unit area and better solved the problem of eating.

He Lifeng, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that this year is the end of the special plan to consolidate the achievements of returning farmland to forests, and it is also a year for the full implementation of the new round of project of returning farmland to forests and grasslands. All localities should combine accurate poverty alleviation, make overall arrangements for funds from different channels, properly solve the long-term livelihood problems of households with difficulties in returning farmland, and give priority to the relocation of farmers in areas with poor natural conditions and living environment. And step up efforts to revise and improve a new round of implementation plan for returning farmland to forests and grasslands.

In order to continuously promote the construction of ecological civilization in China, in 2014, the state launched a new round of construction project of returning farmland to forest and grassland. From 2014 to 2015, the country allocated a total of 15 million mu of farmland to forest and grassland, with a total investment of 12 billion yuan from the central government, including 7.5 billion yuan in cash subsidy and 4.5 billion yuan in planting and afforestation.

It is understood that from August 6 to 7, 149 leaders of the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Forestry Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Water Resources, the 22 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang production and Construction Corps, and other relevant departments of the task of returning farmland to forests, attended the national experience exchange meeting on the work of returning farmland to forests and grasslands held in Bijie City, Guizhou Province.