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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Wuxikou Integrated Flood Management Project Considering the Effects of Flood Risk Reduction and Resettlement

Evaluation of the economic costs and benefits of flood disaster risk management projects is crucial.However,current costbenefit analyses(CBA) often lack reliable estimates of the expected loss reduction from flood control measures and ignore quantitative assessments of resettlement.To address these limitations,this study incorporated a probabilistic risk analysis method and quantitative resettlement benefits assessment into the CBA framework,using the Wuxikou Integrated Flood Management Project(WIFMP) in Jiangxi Province,China,as a case study.The direct economic benefits of flood control were estimated by integrating hydrological statistics,numerical flood inundation simulation,and quantitative damage analysis with exposure and vulnerability data.Furthermore,the resettlement benefits were quantified by measuring the annual income growth of migrants based on assumptions about household employment.Our analysis shows that the total WIFMP investment is RMB 3546.1 million yuan(USD 1=RMB 6.976 yuan),including loan principal and interest of 244.4 million yuan,and operations and maintenance of 605.5 million yuan at 2020 prices.Annual project benefits are estimated at 351.3 million yuan in flood risk reduction,155.7-191.9 million yuan from increased resettlement income,and 42.7 million yuan in power and water revenues.Considering the costs and benefits across the entire project lifecycle,the internal rate of return ranges from 13.7 to 14.2%,and the net present value ranges from 31.8 to 352.6 billion yuan.Through improved benefit estimation methodology,this research enables a more reliable and holistic evaluation of costs and benefits for flood risk management projects.It provides insights for policymakers and practitioners involved in similar projects,contributing to more informed decision making and better allocation of resources in flood disaster risk management.

The influence of large dams building on resettlement in the Upper Mekong River

This paper seeks to quantify the social and economic impact of resettlement based on the physiographic element changes post relocation. We focus on communities affected by the Nuozhadu hydropower project, the largest existing hydropower project on the mainstream of the Upper Mekong River. Soil and meteorological data were collected from the Soil Spatial Database and the China Terrestrial Ecological Information Spatial Meteorology Database, while social and economic data were collected via field surveys. We have three major con- clusions： （1） Communities will be relocated to a new climate and new elevation, moving from a north tropical climate zone under 700 m to a subtropical climate zone above 700 m. （2） Physiographic element changes due to relocation will reduce household economic income. After relocation, the annual family income of the Shidaimao group decreased by 62%; the annual family income of the other 5 study groups （Lasa, Hani, Nochangchangyi, Mengsa, and Dawazi） dropped by 65%. （3） Communities relocated across the study township are 61.1% less connected with their former relatives after relocation while family-to-family free labor exchange, a previous community norm, decreased by 91%. China＇s dam resettlement compensation system focuses on the loss of economic resources after relocation. However, this study finds that the physiographic elements of the relocation sites are an important driver of ensuring economic growth and stability after relocation. As a result, we recommend more attention be paid to physiographic continuity when designing relocation models.

The Resettlement and Rehabilitation after 1998 Flood in China

Theresettlementandrehabilitationareanimportantstageofdisastermanagementcycle.Takingthefloodof1998inChinaasanexample,Iamherebyaddressingtheissueofresettlementandrehabilitationafterdisastersothatwecouldexchangeandshareourideasandopinionsinthisfield.1Te...

Rural vulnerability,migration,and relocation in mountain areas of Western China:An overview of key issues and policy interventions

Western China features a vast area of mountains and high plateaus where millions of people,including diverse ethnic minority groups,have inhabited for generations.Geographically located in the mountainous,remote,and isolated regions,rural communities are prone to natural hazards and thus become vulnerable to impoverishment.To reduce rural vulnerability,many people residing in mountainous villages opted to out-migrate from their original villages and hometowns while some took in-situ adaptation measures.A host of government-sponsored resettlement programs have been carried out to help rural villagers seek alternative livelihoods elsewhere over the past four decades.To achieve a sustainable future for rural communities in mountainous areas of western China,more effective policies and measures need to be developed and enforced.

SUSPENDING VILLAGE" A MODEL OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA IN THE NINGXIA HUI AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA

The southern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China was infamous for its poverty and serious soil erosion caused by over population. In order to alleviate poverty and backwardness, a plan was worked out: to remove 200,000 people to the north plain by developing newly irrigated land during the period of 1983-1992. The plan has been in operation for eight and half years to date. About 200,000 people have been removed from the poor southern part to the newly developed area, and 800,000 mu (1/ 15 ha) of desert land has been cultivated. Most of the migrants have been lifted out of poverty and the people’s life in the south is being improved. During the immigration process, a model, called 'Suspending Village', has been developed. In the article, the whole process of the development and the strategies are discussed.

Empirical Study on Satisfaction of Farmers with Land Requisition in Guangdong Province

Taking land requisition and land disputes in Guangdong Province as starting point,this paper built a framework for analysis of farmers' satisfaction with land requisition.Through questionnaire survey and in-depth interview,field survey was carried out.With the aid of statistical software SPSS22.0 and AMOS22.0,it analyzed specific factors influencing satisfaction of farmers with land requisition using Principal Component Analysis(PCA),Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA),and Structural Equation Modeling(SEM).Empirical results indicate that annual family income of farmers,proportion of requisitioned land to total land of a family,land requisition compensation procedure,compensation standard,compensation content,and compensation supervision havea significantly positive influence on satisfaction of farmers with land requisition.

Two Divergent Cases of Protracted Humanitarian Aid Operations:The World Bank and UNRWA(1949-2017)

The refugee convention of 1951^1 defined a refugee as“someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to the well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,religion,nationality membership in particular social group,or political opinion.”The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees,without prejudice to States granting more favorable treatment to refugees.Such rights include access to courts,to primary education,to work,and the provision for documentation,including refugee travel documents in passport forms”.None of these conditions have been applied to the Palestinian refugees.Following Israel’s war of independence in 1948-49,about 800,000 Palestinians became refugees mainly in Jordan,Syria,Lebanon,and Egypt,where their descendants still live.UNRWA was created in 1949 as a“fire extinguisher”to provide the refugees in these four States with short-term survival assistance.UNRWA’s original mandate was for three years,assuming that the refugees will soon be absorbed by the countries of their refuge.This hope never materialized,and almost 70 years later,the third and fourth generation of Palestinians are still being considered by UNRWA as“refugees”.Our research shows that flows in UNRWA’s working principles have resulted in the prolonging of the problem,and the hindering of its resolution.A comparison with the World Bank’s assistance programs proves that UNRWA’s programs are clearly part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Viet Nam 1969/1970: Pacification as a Path to No-where

Refugees, their movements, and the problems associated with their survival and maintenance in combat scenarios are a constant problem in the search for peace in war zones. In the American conflict in Viet Nam, the traditional village structure with its communal character created the perfect situation for seminal revolutionary movements and the ensuing conflict. These same villages then became targets for search and destroy operations and later wholesale clearing operations in which entire populations were forced into resettlement. In Quang Nam Province, in Central coastal Viet Nam, over 50% of the population or 500,000 people were in refugee status by 1969. The concept of "pacification" in 1970 focused on putting people back on the land in their original village areas or a return to normalcy for some of the population. This case study, by a former civil affairs officer, details movement of a population in refugee status to a "return to village" project, as pacification and an attempt at creating a manageable strategic population area. It failed on both counts. The mistakes inherent in this project illustrate some of the more widespread problems which plagued the conduct of the conflict in Viet Nam. It also calls into question, the concept of the military planning and execution of resettlement. The lack of a thorough understanding of local culture and subjects involved by planners and project officers alike contributed to a village which neither replaced the original nor survived as an improved model.

Human Rights Protection Among Resettlers Displaced by the Three Gorges Project

The mammoth Three Gorges Dam is designed to displace 1.13 million people. Over the past ten years since the resettlement project started in 1993, 709,200 people or 62.76% have been resettled. Thanks to the principle of "resettlement by development," the Chinese government has paid full attention to protecting the property right, the right to employment, the right to residence and the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups. As a result, the resettlement project has given a powerful push to the overall economic and social progress and sustainable development.