Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
Published on: March 21, 2025
The impact on rural livelihoods and ecosystem services of a major relocation and settlement program: A case in
Cong Li1, Shuzhuo Li2, Marcus W Feldman2
1Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.28 Xianning Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China. liconglc@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
China's largest-ever resettlement program is underway, aiming to restore ecosystems and lift ecosystem service providers out of the poverty trap and into sustainable livelihoods. We examine the impact of the relocation and settlement program (RSP) to date, reporting on an ecosystem services (ES) assessment and a 1400-household survey. The RSP generally achieves the goals of ES increase and livelihood restore. In biophysical terms, the RSP improves water quality, sediment retention, and carbon sequestration. In social terms, resettled households so far report transformation of livelihoods activities from traditional inefficient agricultural and forest production to non-farm activities. Increased income contributes to decrease the poverty rate and improve resettled households' living condition and standard. Meanwhile, the RSP decreases households' dependence on ES in terms of provisioning services. Difficulty and challenge also showed up subsequently after relocation. A major current challenge is to enable poorer households to move, while providing greater follow-up support to relocated households. While the program is unique to China, it illuminates widespread opportunities for addressing environmental and poverty-related concerns in a rapidly changing world.
Related Concept Videos
Threats to Biodiversity
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Ecological Disturbance
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Habitat Fragmentation
Migration

