Compensation and benefit sharing: Why resettlement policies and practices must be reformed

Many public and private sector projects, such as hydropower dams or mines, trigger forced population displacement but fail to resettle people sustainably and instead cause their impoverishment. Social science research has found that one root cause of such failures and of impoverishment is asset dispossession and the insufficient financing of resettlement. Most governments, however, state that （1） compensation alone is sufficient for restoring the income and livelihood of those displaced, and （2） resources to supplement compensation with additional financing are not available. The author critiques and rejects these positions. He offers a theoretical analysis of the limits and flaws of compensation payments for expropriated assets, and argues that resources are available for supplementing compensation with financial investments for resettlers＇ development. The sources for supplementary financing are the economic rent （windfall profits） generated by natural resource projects such as hydropower or mining and the regular stream of benefits generated by all projects that require resettlement. Further, the author argues that financial investments in resettlers＇ welfare are indispensable and what benefit sharing is feasible. Therefore, both should become basic principles of resettlement legislation and practice. In addition to theoretical analysis, the author documents with empirical evidence that some countries （China, Brazil, Canada, Columbia and Japan） already make investments additional to compensation for post-displacement reconstruction. The author sums up his argument in these key points： （1） Compensation alone cannot prevent the impoverishment of resettlers and cannot in itself restore and improve their livelihoods; （2） Additional financing is needed for direct investments in resettlement with development; （3） Compensation levels must be increased; （4） Financing resources are available in most cases for investing in resettlers＇ development, but allocation of investments depends on the political will of governments and project owners; （5） Firm opposition to displacement and under-compensation is growing in many countries and the strength of resettlers＇ demands and political opposition does influence allocation levels; （6） Mechanisms for benefit sharing and transfer are known arid effective and these mechanisms Can be adjusted todifferent country and economic sector conditions; （7） The introduction of benefit-sharing rules requires legislative enactment for robust application.

Compensation for Land Loss in Reservoir Resettlement: A Case Study of The Three Gorges Project, China

This paper studies current policies in compensation for land lost due to construction of the Three Gorges project (TGP), China. In the case study of Kaixian County, the value of land in the peri-urban areas is underestimated. Some losses in land are tangible and thus measurable, but some losses are intangible and thus immeasurable. The land available in the resettlement areas is scarce and rarely of equivalent quality. This study suggests that the loss of agricultural land be compensated with alternative land and/or non-land-based livelihood strategies, including part compensation in monetary terms and preferential policies.

Evaluation of eco-economic effects in relation to resettlement policy in Shulehe River Basin

In the Shulehe River Basin, policy of resettlement was very effective in handling agricultural development and livelihood problems in regions of poverty limited by topography, climate, or infrastructure. Thus, since 1996-1997, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement project transferred roughly 7.5 × 10^4 people from areas of Dingxi, Longxi or Minxian which could not offer sufficient resources for the residents. Meanwhile, construction facilities such as the reservoir, which underpins the resettlement project, also triggered an internal migration of people away from the reservoir to other parts of the Shulehe River Basin. This large scale migration derived apparent effects in water resources, land use and cover change, agricultural structure as well as landscapes. Results show that total arable land expanded by 3.1 × 10^8 m^2, cattle numbers maintained a stable level of 1×10^4, pigs declined to a low level due to market trends, and sheep numbers soared from 17.44×10^4 to 73.57×10^4. However, greening and afforestation increased while croplands maintained a rational tendency accompanying with greening area expansion. From the standpoint of integration, the Shulehe River Basin resettlement policy fulfilled its previous goals of improving the inhabitants＇ livelihood and the capacity of environment when sphtial residues including environmental capacity and resources consumption for sustainable development are still positive conditions.

Review and Prospect for the Resettlement of TGP

The general situation of the Three Gorges Projects reservoir inundation and its characteristics are presented. The investigation and verification of the Three Gorges Projects reservoir resettlement and its planning are summarized. Some key technical problems as environmental capacity of resettlement in the Three Gorges reservoir area, relations between compensation investment for resettlement and development investment, responsibility for the assigned resettlement investment and design under conditions of a limited investment, construction of mountain cities and towns and related geological disasters etc. are expounded. Facing new situations, several proposals are put forward to make the resettlement work well done, such as implementing resettlement project construction in accordance with the capital construction procedure strengthening regular management of the resettlement work, further perfecting the system of resettlement supervision, attaching great importance to the environmental protection in the reservoir area and to the planning work of resettling relocatees in other counties or provinces, speeding up the prevention and regulation, and the monitoring of landslides, etc.

Study on Sustainable Development of Resettlement in Urbanization Process——A Case Study on the ADB-Funded Nanning Qingxiu Mountain Ecological Protection Project

Based on derivation of permanent income hypothesis(PIH),the conflict is analyzed between expected profitability of migrants and government policy in resettlement project.Government has provided compensation for relevant building and land losses,but farmers are still unwilling to dismantle and move.On the contrary,it results in more serious social problems.The implementation and effect of resettlement policy is analyzed with ADB-funded Nanning Qingxiu Mountain Resettlement Project as an example.Finally,following suggestions are put forward for promoting sustainable development of resettlement:change ideas of resettlement to promote establishment of civil rights protection ideas;carry out early survey to protect rights and interests of owners and migrants;communicate with migrants to ensure their smooth appeal channel;and enhance coordination work with government department to ensure smooth completion of resettlement.

Effects of Post Eviction Resettlement on Land-Use and Cover Change in Uganda’s Oil Exploration Areas

Evaluation of the changes in land use and land cover change (LULCC) in respect to oil exploration across the Albertine region in Uganda has been focused around the exploration areas and protected areas, with no attention to the potential impacts of evictees’ activities on resettled areas. This study used LANDSAT images to analyze the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) among the period before eviction (2002 and 2005) at the climax of eviction and resettlements (2005-2011), and during the post-resettlement period (2011-2015) to quantify the impacts of resettlements on the environment. LANDSAT images were processed using ERDAS IMAGINE software and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.1 to determine LULCC in relation to post-eviction resettlement in the study area. Results from the study indicate. The results of the study indicate that vegetation reduced by 33.08 percent, woodland were converted into settlements by 48 percent while farmlands increased by 18.3 percent. Non vegetated areas increased during resettlements however they reduced five years after eviction which indicated the ability of the ecosystem to stabilize. The study proved that post eviction induced resettlements can yield potential environmental effects to resettled areas. It is important therefore to plan and implement other means of additional source of income and construction materials for evictees to abate vegetation clearance and hence rescue the woodland. The study also recommends maintenance of an optimum population and well-planned pre eviction resettlement schemes.

The resettlement planning and practice of Three Gorges Project

Migrant resettlement is essential to the success of the Three Gorges Project (TGP),and the smooth implementation of resettlement is ensured by the resettlement planning and effective organization management.In the process of resettlement planning and implementation,systematic legislation and document support system is established;environmental capacity analysis and assets appraisal methods are introduced;resettlement sites are selected through in-depth analysis and comparison;the relationship between resettlement compensation and local development is correctly understood and considered,and reasonable resettlement schedules are well prepared.Through the establishment of efficient management system and capital management mode of "static control and dynamic management",as well as the timely adjustment of plan according to actual situations,the resettlement is accomplished smoothly.Thus,the social stability of the reservoir area is ensured;the economic development of reservoir area is promoted,and it has promoted successfully the improvement of legislation,regulations and techniques for land requisition and resettlement.The paper also discusses the theory and prospective work of resettlement.

Interactive Development-oriented Poverty Reduction Model for Bijie Experimental Region under the Guidance of Scientific Outlook on Development

Bijie Experimental Region takes the ecological construction as the guarantee and takes population control as the key,to promote development-oriented poverty reduction and explore benign interaction between development-oriented poverty reduction and ecological construction and population control.Development-oriented poverty reduction model includes combination of raising crops and livestock,coordinated development of multiple wealth sources,transferring labor,and partner assistance;ecological construction model includes"Five sons passed imperial examinations",desertification control,agricultural circular economy,and project promotion;population control models includes human-land linkage,combination of favorable policies and propaganda and education,and combination of ambition arousing and education promotion.

Nature/Culture Dichotomy in China’s Ecological Resettlement Policy——Research based on Wustu Village,IMAR,PRC

Ecological resettlement,as a subsidiary policy of the Central Government’s environmental policy,is now attracting increasing domestic and international attention.The amount of immigrants involved in the policy serves as one reason to raise concerns about the issue,and its side effects (especially the loss of ethnic cultures and the dilemma of some ethnic minority herders and farmers) gave rise to multi-lateral discussions about the policy.The ecological and economic effects of the policy are the primary focus of present research,while the cultural analysis (esp.concerning the social and political forces that fostered and implemented the policy) of the State’s environmental and ecological resettlement policy is lacking.Based on my field research in Wustu village,IMAR,this paper relates the cultural basis of these policies with China’s desire to establish a harmonious society and argues that respect for minority cultures as well as local participation of immigrants are key to solving China’s environment issues.

A new Lease on Life by Relocation and Resettlement

THE Wumeng Mountains are one of the major mountain ranges of the Yungui Plateau in southwest China.Having a typical karst landform,it features bumpy roads that are hard to travel on.

Discussions on the Land Consolidation to Promote Development-oriented Poverty Alleviation in Binchuan County of Yunnan Province

Land consolidation is an important way to improve the conditions of agricultural production and promote poverty alleviation and development in poor areas. This paper attempts to take Binchuan County of Yunnan Province as an example to explore the main practices,typical experiences and achievements of land consolidation in promoting poverty alleviation and development,so as to provide evidence for further development of relevant policies. It is found that in recent years,through the construction of rural production and living facilities,increase of employment for farmers in poor areas,promotion of the development of special industrial area and other measures,Binchuan County has effectively used the land consolidation platform,and has made outstanding achievements in poverty alleviation and development,so as to improve agricultural production conditions,improve the level of agricultural production,increase farmers' income,speed up the pace of poverty reduction,strengthen ecological protection and promote the sustainable development of economy and society. However,there are still some problems in the land consolidation,which need to be paid attention to and solved in the struggle against poverty.

Major Issues of Post-earthquake Housing Construction during Resettlement

Natural disasters provide an acute image of how man-made technologies are a cause of conflict when it comes to nature. It is man versus wild in its true means. The nature lets us grow and increase our settlements. We encroach on other animals＇ territories and it is only when the environment＇s patience runs out that it retaliates in forms of natural disasters. These disasters affect numerous lives and kill a lot ofhnmans. This is the main reason why we require more stable structures and preventive measures to battle the wrath of the nature. Rescue and search operations are conducted by many different government and private agencies including NGOs. These operations aim at providing the required relief and supplies after the disaster. Injured people need to be treated. People in dangerous zones need to be evacuated. Help is needed in many forms. Out of the many natural disasters, this paper will focus on the occurrence of earthquakes. Severe earthquakes destroy buildings and structures like roads, bridges etc. and wreak havoc in the community. Earthquakes largely damage all human constructions, including houses. This is the reason why a reconstruction program for dwellings and housings is of utmost importance. A home is only secondary to basic needs such as food and water. A well-planned strategy is important when it comes to launching a post-earthquake reconstruction program. The strategy should be reasonable and should consider the best interests of everyone affected; self-help and imported fabrication should play no part in the decision-making procedures. Creating awareness, physically demonstrating options and delivering are the three steps for the success of reconstruction programs. The extent of affected area and the magnitude of earthquakes are variable in nature and it is on these two aspects that the reconstruction strategy is devised. Technical aspects are focused towards the development of the affected areas and conceptual design of surrounding neighborhoods. It also aims at identifying seminars and programs based on easy financing for a new home. Along with these, review processes are conducted for the analysis of new residential needs based on optimizing the use of available land for planning and development. The paper discusses the construction of housing and resettlements as prioritized activities that must be undertaken post an earthquake. Earthquakes physically only destroy structures and buildings but for the people affected, they destroy lives, jobs, companies, sources of food and the sense of safety and traumatize the ones who come out alive.

Resettlement Agency： The Case of the Welcome Home Community Center

Research on U.S. immigrant and refugee resettlement has focused on some of the ways federal and voluntary organizations help new members integrate into mainstream society. Little research, if any, has explored how bridging socio-cultural gaps emphasizing immigrants＇ and refugees＇ aspirations is done. Conducted in a mid-size southern city, this study focuses on an organization funded solely by private donations in which the model is to encourage immigrants and refugees to set their own goals. The program is part of a social context for participants＇ strategic action planning in the process of their adjustment to U.S. society. The agency takes a transnational approach that helps participants attain cultural, economic, and educational goals.

The Impact of Rural Electricity Supplier on Resettlement of Rural Surplus Labor Force and the Route Optimization

Based on the perspective of electricity supplier on the issues of Rural Surplus Labor resettlement, we analyzed China＇s rural electricity supplier development and resettlement of rural surplus labor issues and factors, proposed the impact of sluggish development of rural electricity suppliers on their resettlement of the rural surplus labor force, and made the following suggestions： to develop township enterprises, to strengthen the construction of small towns, to settlement surplus labor force on the post, to transfer the surplus labor, to increase farmers＇ income; to eliminate the urban-rural dual structure, to implement loose household registration management system, to increase education level, to improve the quality of farmers, to provide information and improve guidance to change disorderly transfer to the orderly transfer.

A Comprehensive Programme for the Resettlement of Climate Refugees

The placement of environmentally displaced persons is imminent.Involving as many countries as possible in the resettlement of environmentally displaced persons,while protecting their culture and human rights,are the primary goal of the resettlement program.However,countries may refuse to participate in resettlement programs if their interests are not fully considered.The rights of the environmentally displaced persons cannot be protected.The model involves the interests of all parties to ensure the wide participation of all countries in the world.Then,we use quantitative assessment to assess the risk of cultural loss and protect culture and human rights of environmentally displaced persons by controlling this risk.Firstly,in order to calculate the number of people who are likely to be environmentally displaced persons in the future,we build a prediction model based on Markov Chain.By analyzing the average altitude of each country and the predicted sea level rise,we calculate the number of countries likely to be submerged over time.Combining the projected future population of each country,we calculate the total number of people at risk of becoming environmentally displaced persons.Secondly,we link the number of environmentally displaced persons that countries should place with the two goals of human rights protection.Establish Double-Score model to allocate the number of people that each country should place reasonably.The model takes into account countries’carbon emissions and their suitability for migration.The two integral indexes in the model are as follows:Score of carbon dioxide emission.The higher a country’s score,the more responsibility it has to accommodate environmentally displaced persons.The index is converted from the country’s per capita carbon emissions and total carbon emissions,using the Paris Climate Agreement’s calculation of carbon emissions.Score of suitability for immigration.The lower the Score of a country,the higher the Score of carbon emission can be deducted.Meanwhile,the better a country’s cultural and human rights protection of environmentally displaced persons,the higher the score.We encourage countries to actively protect the human rights and culture of refugees.As a part of its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement,the countries of the world must keep their total score below the set threshold.

Resettlement Project Turns Cityscape Patches to Landmarks

Lao Zhang was a retired construction worker in Hohhot, capital of north China＇s Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. The old man had worked to build apartment buildings all his life but never expected, even in a dream, to be able to set his home in one of them.

Promote Development-Oriented Poverty Alleviation——An interview with Minister Liu Jian

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Chinese Government attaches greatimportance to alleviating rural poverty and has made remarkableachievements in this regard over the past two decades. For details,our staff reporter has interviewed Liu Jian, Minister of the StateCouncil Leading Group Office for Poverty Reduction. Followingis a transcript of the interview.

大型城镇集中安置区搬迁移民生计资本组合对家庭收入影响机理的实证研究

易地搬迁移民已成为防止规模性返贫的重要群体。当前,搬迁移民面临着就业市场风险增大,生计资本存量减少以及家庭增收困难等现实问题,优化移民生计资本内部结构,发挥生计资本间的组合效应,提升生计资本组合对移民家庭收入的贡献作用是解决上述问题的重要途径。学界当前与易地搬迁相关的研究多聚焦分析移民生计资本对家庭总收入的作用机制,较少基于结构功能理论视角,从实证层面探讨生计资本组合对家庭不同收入来源的影响及其相互作用机制。本文以贵州省大型城镇集中安置区移民为研究对象,首先测算移民家庭生计资本,分别采用OLS和分位数回归分析生计资本与家庭收入之间的作用机理,然后采用多元线性回归模型测算生计资本间的互补效应和替代效应,构建了移民家庭收入与生计资本组合之间的矩阵分析模型,分别应用tobit和logit回归进行实证检验,并剖析了不同维度下不同生计资本组合对不同类型收入的影响。研究结果表明:(1)移民生计资本总量有助于提升家庭收入水平。在后搬迁时代,自然资本对家庭收入的边际贡献最小,而社会资本对家庭收入呈现负向影响。(2)五大资本中的人力资本与自然资本、物质资本、社会资本以及金融资本之间存在着普适性互补效应,金融资本与社会资本间存在替代效应。(3)互补性生计资本值越大,移民家庭工资收入和财产收入越高;互补性和替代性资本量均较低的家庭主要以获得转移性收入维持生计。

城乡融合发展进程中跨县搬迁社区运行逻辑及反思——基于社区行动主体性视角

跨县搬迁社区秩序重建是一个涉及主体、空间、要素和制度的动态复杂过程。本研究以云南省昭通市J安置区为例,基于社区行动主体性理论视角,构建“主体-空间-要素-制度”四位一体分析框架,考察跨县搬迁社区的运行逻辑。“断根”阶段的行动目标是“断穷根”,此阶段社区行动更多指向迁出地传统行动机制延续及再生产;“融入”阶段的行动目标是“能融入”,此阶段社区行动主要包括就业生计、社区治理、社会适应、民族融合行动等。现实经验看,安置区内多元行动主体因受多种因素影响,一方面延续传统生计的行动逻辑,另一方面“融入”行动重塑也面临就业生计重塑难、社区治理重塑难、社会适应重塑难和民族融合重塑难四重困境,由此使跨县搬迁社区运行呈现“搬迁未断根”与“安置难融入”共存的实践特征。破解上述困境必须从衔接新型城镇化和城乡融合发展战略出发,一方面聚焦大型搬迁安置区的现实问题,健全以属地为主、迁出地为辅的协同工作机制,完善县域公共服务,避免安置区陷入社会化“孤岛”;另一方面重塑共同体意识,健全安置区自治体系,强化搬迁群众内生动力,提前谋划过渡期结束后的社会融合议题,切实规避“扶而不退”的负面效应。