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.

Relationship between Farmland Use Right Circulation and Non-agricultural Employment——Based on Survey Data from Eastern and Western China

Relationship between Chinese rural non-agricultural employment and farmland use circulation has always been a hot research topic without final conclusions.This paper uses survey data of"China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)"covering 1,549 households of 95 villages in Zhejiang and Gansu Province in 2008.According to the data analysis,Zhejiang Province has a higher ratio of rural households leasing out their farmland than Gansu Province has,while the latter has a higher ratio of rural residents going out for earning a living.In both provinces,non-agricultural employment and farmland use circulation show significant positive correlation,but in Gansu,non-agricultural employment of farmers shows no significant positive correlation with rural households leasing out their farmland.The factor shows that for peasants in underdeveloped regions of west China,they rely more on land because of its social security functions,so they are not willing to lease out their land even when they go to cities for earning a living.For local government,it is not appropriate to promote farmland use circulation by depending on the transfer of rural labor forces,fundamental needs of peasants must be taken into consideration.

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.

Spatial Pattern of Female Non-agricultural Employment and Its Driving Forces in Guangdong Province,China:A Perspective of Individual and Family-level

Promoting women’s employment is not only the need of social and economic development,but also the historical mission of liberating women.This paper uses data from the 1%Population Sample Survey,taken in Guangdong Province in 2015,to explore how women’s marital status,education,and family environment affect the female non-agricultural employment rate(FNAER)on a county scale using a spatial-lag model.The results show that:1)The female non-agricultural employment rate in counties of Guangdong Province is low,with more than three-quarters of counties having female non-agricultural employment rate less than 50%.Moreover,the spatial distribution of FNAER is uneven,with the high-value areas concentrated in the southeast and the low-value areas mainly distributed in the central and western parts of Guangdong Province.2)From the perspective of industry,there are significant spatial differences among women.In the southeast,women are mainly engaged in the secondary industry,while in the central and western regions,women are mainly engaged in the tertiary industry.3)Women having better skills and more effective support from the elderly can improve the FNAER.Women having lower skills,smaller-scale families,a higher fertility rate,and households with two or more elderly members have a negative effect on the FNAER.4)Public policies suggest that improving women’s education and their family environment,building social welfare facilities,and repairing the family environment will increase the FNAER.

The Impacts of Income from Non-agricultural Industries Operated by Rural households on Farmers' Income

Income from non-agricultural industries operated by rural households is an important income source of farmers' income. According to the Regional Rural Residents' Net Income Per Capita in 2004 issued by the State Statistics Bureau and the relevant statistics of national comprehensive investigation(CGSS2005) in 2005, the impacts of farmers' income gap and farmers' individual features on their income and the impacts of income from non-agricultural industries operated by rural households on farmers' individual income differences are analyzed by applying Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) as an analysis tool to establish the null model of HLM, excluding the second level model of the second level prediction variables and including the second level model of the second layer prediction variables. The analysis assumes that farmers' individual income varies hugely in different provinces; farmers' individual income has close relation with farmers' individual features; the improvement of income from non-agricultural industries operated by rural households has different impacts on farmers' income.

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.

Importance and Countermeasures of Curbing the Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-agricultural Land under the Background of the Rural Revitalization Strategy

Farmland is the most basic element for farmers’survival and development,and has a social security function.The conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land has gradually become the primary factor in the reduction of agricultural land in various regions of China,seriously endangering China’s food security.Under the background of the rural revitalization strategy,the emergence of the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land and the inevitability of its development were analyzed from both the acceleration of urbanization and the increase in land demand by using the literature research method.The importance of curbing the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land to achieve the grand goal of strong agriculture,beautiful rural areas,and rich farmers was clarified,and then countermeasures and suggestions to curb the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land were put forward,which is of great significance to promoting the effective implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy.

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.

共同富裕背景下我国退役军人安置的理念创新与实践进路

做好新时代的退役军人安置工作对推进强国强军事业发展、维护政治和社会稳定、实现全体人民共同富裕具有重要意义。做好共同富裕背景下的退役军人安置工作需要从创新理念入手,聚焦退役军人对美好生活的向往及其全面发展的需要,坚持以退役军人为中心的发展思想、关注退役军人多元化的发展需求、注重退役军人知识和技能水平的全面提升。落实到具体实践中则需要以“服务为本”转变“管理至上”的思维定式,用“人才发展”破解“救济帮扶”的制度困局,用“角色在场”置换“角色悬置”的参与机制,从“政府统揽”走向“多元协同”的实践范式。