The Assessment of Green Poverty Reduction Strategies in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study of Southern Xinjiang in China
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Overview of Green Poverty Reduction Models
3.1. Overview of the Composite Forest Model in Maigaiti County
3.2. Overview of the Drought-Resistant Crop Model in the 54th Regiment
3.3. Overview of the Industrial Transformation Model in the 224th Regiment
4. Methodology
4.1. Data Sources
4.2. Calculation of Economic Benefits
4.3. Calculation of Ecological Benefits
4.4. Calculation of Social Benefits
4.5. Calculation of Comprehensive Benefit
5. Results and Discussion
5.1. Weight Result
5.2. Benefit Estimated Results
5.2.1. Economic Benefits
- (1)
- Based on the composition of the ecological mixed forest (Table 1) and the data on planting years and growth rates of different types of trees obtained from the survey, the comprehensive estimated forest timber yield multiplier is 35%, and the averaged timber price is 600 CNY/m3. The forestry stock in Maigaiti County is estimated to be 481,000 m3, which is worth CNY 101.01 million. In addition, the medicinal herb planted is estimated to have a value of CNY 39,000. Therefore, the economic benefit of the composite forest model in Maigaiti County is CNY 101.05 million.
- (2)
- The economic profit of Cyperus esculentus in the 54th Regiment comes from both straw and nut production. The net profit for straw is 2625 CNY/hm2 and the net profit for the nut is 60,000 CNY/hm2. The processing profit, which primarily involves edible oil, starch, and feed, is approximately 76,500 CNY/hm2. A significant share of the land has not yet reached the optimal yield due to the short production period. The economic benefit of the drought-resistant crop model in the 54th Regiment is estimated to be CNY 102 million.
- (3)
- In 2020, the profit from 10,000 hm2 of red dates in the 224th Regiment reached CNY 772 million. Red dates are processed on-site and other crops are also produced. The market prices are 10 CNY/kg for dried red dates, 6 CNY/kg for pears, 16 CNY/kg for dried walnuts, and 8 CNY/kg for apples. According to yield and market prices, the economic value of red dates in 2020 was calculated to be CNY 772 million, with other products valued at CNY 165 million. The total economic benefit of the industrial transformation model in the 224th Regiment is CNY 937 million.
5.2.2. Ecological Benefits
5.2.3. Social Benefits
- (1)
- The 27,300 hectares of composite forest in Maigaiti County have provided employment opportunities for 115 impoverished households. The irrigation, pesticide application, and other maintenance tasks required a total of 5160 person-days labor throughout the year, with an average monthly wage of CNY 4000 per person. Therefore, the social benefit is estimated to be CNY 22 million.
- (2)
- In 2020, the Cyperus esculentus acreage in the 54th Regiment was 1333.33 hectares, providing 960 temporary employment opportunities with labor costs approximately CNY 3750 per hectare. The post-harvest processing provided 60 employment positions. The cost of planting Cyperus esculentus is about CNY 24,000 per hectare per person. Thus, the social benefit is estimated to be CNY 6.44 million.
- (3)
- The industrial transformation model in the 224th Regiment employs 500,000 person-days labor annually. The 666.66 hectares of forest have provided 60 households with job opportunities and received a subsidy of CNY 450 per hectare. The social benefit of the 224th Regiment is estimated to be CNY 50 million.
5.2.4. Comprehensive Benefits
6. Conclusions and Discussion
6.1. Conclusions
- (1)
- The comprehensive benefits of the composite forest model, the drought-resistant crop model, and the industrial transformation model are CNY 288 million, CNY 50 million, and CNY 545 million, respectively. The ecological benefits mainly come from soil conservation and water resource regulation. The economic benefits are primarily derived from the value of forestry, medicinal plants, forage, and grains and oils. The social benefits are mainly reflected in employment and subsidies.
- (2)
- The unique natural conditions in Southern Xinjiang yields the weight of ecological benefits to be 0.43, which is much higher than the social and economic benefits. The ecological benefits are more significant in the composite forest model and the industrial transformation model, while the economic benefits are more prominent in the drought-resistant crop model. As these models continue to develop, the economic benefits of green industries such as forestry, forage, medicinal plants, and drought-resistant crops will gradually become more promising.
6.2. Discussion
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Species | Area (Hectares) | Survival Rate (%) | Biological Characteristics |
---|---|---|---|
Poplar | 2267 | 90 | Sun-loving, deep-rooted, drought tolerate, wind resistant. |
Elaeagnus angustifolia + Populus euphratica + Hippophae | 9333 | 60 | Three species are planted in alternative rows. Elaeagnus angustifolia has extensive horizontal roots, which is resistant to wind, drought, and salinity. Populus euphratica is drought and cold tolerant. Hippophae grows fast. |
Haloxylon ammodendron + Xanthoceras sorbifolium | 14667 | 80 | Haloxylon ammodendron is planted alternatively with Xanthoceras sorbifolium, which is resilience to poor soil and salinity. |
Bamboo willow | 600 | 75 | |
Others | 467 | - | Mainly wild grass, with a coverage rate of 10%. |
Overall Goal | System Layer | Weight | Index Layer | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|
Comprehensive benefit evaluation index system | Economic benefits | 0.27 | Direct economic value | 0.2699 |
Ecological benefits | 0.43 | Water resources regulation | 0.0887 | |
Soil conservation | 0.0965 | |||
Carbon sequestration | 0.0743 | |||
Windbreak and sand fixation | 0.0579 | |||
Biodiversity protection | 0.0659 | |||
Landscape and recreation | 0.0467 | |||
Social benefits | 0.30 | Quantifiable social value | 0.3000 |
Models | Soil Moisture Content (%) | Bulk Density (g/cm3) | Non-Capillary Porosity (%) | Capillary Porosity (%) | Organic Matter (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Composite Forest Model | 5.28 | 1.57 | 19.17 | 17.81 | 0.31 |
The Drought-Resistant Cash Crop Model | 6.92 | 1.44 | 8.16 | 36.54 | 0.13 |
The Industrial Transformation Model | 4.36 | 1.25 | 16.59 | 34.16 | 0.39 |
Models | Total Salinity (%) | Total Nitrogen (%) | Total Phosphorus (%) | pH Value | |
The Composite Forest Model | 0.52 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 8.49 | |
The Drought-Resistant Cash Crop Model | 0.2 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 7.86 | |
The Industrial Transformation Model | 0.43 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 7.13 |
Economic Benefits | Ecological Benefits | Social Benefits | Comprehensive Benefits | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Composite Forest Model | 101 | 904 | 1 | 287 |
The Drought-Resistant Cash Crop Model | 102 | 19 | 5 | 50 |
The Industrial Transformation Model | 937 | 470 | 50 | 544 |
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Chen, H.; Chao, W.; Xue, Z.; Wei, H.; Li, Q. The Assessment of Green Poverty Reduction Strategies in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study of Southern Xinjiang in China. Sustainability 2024, 16, 6441. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156441
Chen H, Chao W, Xue Z, Wei H, Li Q. The Assessment of Green Poverty Reduction Strategies in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study of Southern Xinjiang in China. Sustainability. 2024; 16(15):6441. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156441
Chicago/Turabian StyleChen, Hongmei, Weipeng Chao, Zhen Xue, Hanlin Wei, and Qing Li. 2024. "The Assessment of Green Poverty Reduction Strategies in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study of Southern Xinjiang in China" Sustainability 16, no. 15: 6441. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156441