Sustainability Evaluation of the Grain.pdf

Environ Manage (2007) 40:113–122 DOI 10.1007/s00267-006-0113-1 Sustainability Evaluation of the Grain for Green Project: From Local People’s Responses to Ecological Effectiveness in Wolong Nature Reserve Jian-Ying Xu Æ Li-Ding Chen Æ Yi-He Lu Æ Bo-Jie Fu Received: 1 April 2006 / Accepted: 7 January 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract This article examines the sustainability of the pensation mechanisms should be established and adapted Grain for Green Project in the Wolong Nature Reserve. to local economic, environmental, and social conditions. In Pertinent data were collected through a questionnaire sur- managing nature reserves and moving toward sustainabil- vey and a spatial analysis of reforested lands. The study ity, ensuring all aspects of local socioeconomic and eco- results identified four critical issues that may influence the logical/environmental issues are properly addressed is a sustainability of the project in the study area. The first issue real challenge. Based on our study, some recommendations is concerned with the project’s impacts on local sustenance. for improving sustainability of the project are given. Because local grain consumption depends greatly on compensation awarded by the project, the potential for Keywords Grain for Green Project Sustainability sustainability of the project is compromised. The second evaluation Local people Ecological restoration issue is that the project causes negative effects on local Giant panda habitat incomes in the Wolong Nature Reserve, which may undermine local economic prospects. The third issue is that the project failed to deliver suitable habitat for the giant Introduction panda, although two of the suitability requirements that deal with landfo