Converting farmland to forest is a strategic measure to improve the ecological environment and promote the construction of ecological civilization. It is also an effective way to adjust and optimize the industrial structure, help poor farmers get rid of poverty and become rich, and accelerate the construction of a comprehensive moderately prosperous society.
The country launched a new round of returning farmland to forest and grassland policy in 2014. However, during the process of promoting the new round of returning farmland to forest and grassland, various localities reported that the overall scale was small and the implementation progress was slow. . In order to accelerate the conversion of farmland to forest and grassland, promote ecological environment protection, and promote poverty alleviation and prosperity in contiguous impoverished areas, on December 31, 2015, eight departments including the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the "Announcement on Expanding the Scale of the New Round of Converting Farmland to Forest and Grassland". Notice" (Cainong [2015] No. 258).
The "Notice" stipulates that the state will provide a subsidy of 1,500 yuan per mu for returning farmland to forest (including a cash subsidy of 1,200 yuan arranged by the central government's special funds, and a seedling afforestation fee of 300 yuan arranged by the National Development and Reform Commission). A subsidy of 1,000 yuan per mu is provided (including a cash subsidy of 850 yuan from the central government’s special funds and a seedling and grass planting fee of 150 yuan from the National Development and Reform Commission).
The subsidy funds arranged by the central government for returning farmland to forests are distributed to the provincial people's governments in three installments, with 800 yuan per mu in the first year (including 300 yuan for seedling afforestation), 300 yuan in the third year, and 300 yuan in the fifth year. 400 yuan; the subsidy for returning farmland to grassland will be issued in two installments, 600 yuan per mu in the first year (including 150 yuan for seedlings and grass) and 400 yuan in the third year.
In addition to the national subsidy policy, some areas have other preferential policies for returning farmland to forest. For example, Wusu City's "2018 New Round of Converting Farmland to Forestry Implementation Plan" stipulates that converting farmland to forestry can enjoy the following preferential policies:
1. All land converted from farmland to forestry is exempt from contract fees.
2. All land converted from farmland to forest enjoys the second-round water price.
3. Converting farmland to forestland will enjoy a national subsidy of 1,500 yuan per mu. The subsidy will be distributed in three installments, with RMB 800 for those who pass the acceptance inspection in the first year, RMB 300 for those who pass the acceptance inspection in the third year, and RMB 400 for those who pass the acceptance inspection in the fifth year.
4. Enjoy other national policies of returning farmland to forest.
5. In addition to the national subsidy for returning farmland to forest, the municipal finance will provide an ecological environment construction subsidy of 100 yuan per mu per year. The subsidy period is tentatively scheduled to remain unchanged for 5 years. Five years later, if the state still has a subsidy policy for cotton, the subsidy standard will continue to be determined based on the amount of state subsidies for cotton. If the state cancels the cotton purchase subsidy policy, the municipal financial subsidies will also be cancelled.
6. After passing the inspection and acceptance, the land included in the conversion of farmland to forest land will no longer be reduced in water and land.
7. After passing the acceptance inspection, you can apply for a real estate registration certificate, change state-owned land and collective mobile land into forest land, and sign a forest land contract with a term of 50 years. Forest ownership belongs to you, and forest rights can be inherited and transferred in accordance with the law.
8. If a state-owned land contractor voluntarily converts a large area of farmland to forest, he should go through the procedures for returning farmland to forest in accordance with the procedures of individual declaration, land and resources bureau, township (field) town review, and forestry bureau approval, and enjoy the benefits of returning farmland to forest. Return all supporting policies to forest.
What conditions need to be met to apply for a subsidy for converting farmland to forest? How to apply for the subsidy for returning farmland to forest?
Taking Quannan County as an example, the "Announcement on Declaring the Plan for Converting Farmland to Forests in 2019" issued by the Forestry Bureau of Quannan County clearly stipulates the application conditions and procedures for converting farmland to forests.
(1) Application conditions
1. Farmers apply voluntarily;
2. Non-basic farmland with slopes above 25 degrees;
3. Seriously polluted cultivated land;
4. Non-basic farmland sloping 15-25 degrees in important water sources; 5. The scope of returning farmland is consistent with the county and national land utilization status map.
(2) Priority application conditions
1. Registered poor villages and poor households;
2. Farmers with high enthusiasm for voluntary application.
(3) Application procedures
The afforestation subject applies to the local forestry work station to fill in the project declaration form. At the same time, provide the afforestation subject’s ID card and a copy of the land contract contract. After approval by the local village committee After review and approval by the council, township (town) government, and county Land and Resources Bureau, the county Forestry Bureau will organize technical personnel to conduct on-site inspections and then select the best ones for inclusion in the project plan.