Report on China’s New Farmland Protection Measures and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction to the Strategic Policy Framework

The People’s Republic of China has instituted new measures to manage the protection of permanent basic farmland. This policy initiative, jointly released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, comprises 27 items and is scheduled for implementation on October 1st. The framework is designed to balance the rigidity of farmland protection with the flexibility required for sustainable agricultural production, directly contributing to national food security and several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Core Objective: Advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The fundamental goal of the new measures is to protect a minimum of 103 million hectares of farmland, a critical action for ensuring long-term food security and advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). By safeguarding productive land, the policy directly supports Target 2.4, which calls for ensuring sustainable food production systems and implementing resilient agricultural practices.

• Problem Addressed: The previous management system was identified as overly rigid, leading to challenges in both protection and agricultural economic development.
• Identified Deficiencies:
  • Unreasonable delineation of protected areas.
  • Fragmentation of farmland plots.
  • Subpar quality of some designated permanent basic farmland.

Innovative Mechanisms for Sustainable Land Management (SDG 15)

To address existing deficiencies and promote sustainable land use in line with SDG 15 (Life on Land), the measures introduce a reserve zone system for permanent basic farmland. This system is designed to create large, contiguous tracts of high-quality arable land, contributing to Target 15.3 (combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil).

1. Primary Function: The reserve zone will serve as the main source for compensatory demarcation when optimizing the protection red line or when major construction projects encroach on farmland.
2. Criteria for Inclusion: Land prioritized for the reserve zone includes:
   • Newly added farmland from land consolidation and established high-standard plots.
   • Land contiguous with existing permanent basic farmland.
   • Superior-quality farmland with slopes under 15 degrees.
   • Farmland with favorable water and soil resources.
   • Land reclaimed from other agricultural uses like orchards and woodlands.

Balancing Infrastructure Development with Agricultural Sustainability (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

The policy framework provides a mechanism for balancing the protection of agricultural land with the need for national development, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). It allows for controlled adjustments to the permanent basic farmland red line under specific conditions.

• Permitted Adjustments: Local authorities may make annual adjustments to support urgent local needs while upholding overall protection goals.
• Conditions for Adjustment:
  1. High-standard farmland construction and land consolidation projects.
  2. Development of facilities for collective economic organizations.
  3. Key construction projects approved within national land spatial planning.
• Exempted Major Infrastructure Projects:
  • In situ site protection projects approved by the State Council.
  • Airports, railways, and highways.
  • Water transport facilities.
  • Energy and water conservancy projects.

Governance and Implementation Framework

The measures establish a clear governance structure for dynamic and responsive land management.

• Provincial Responsibility: Natural resource departments, in collaboration with agricultural departments, are tasked with regularly assessing and delineating reserve zone targets at city and county levels.
• Local Autonomy: Local authorities are empowered to make annual adjustments to the layout of permanent basic farmland, eliminating unsuitable plots and incorporating new, high-quality farmland based on national land spatial planning assessments.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s central theme is ensuring “national food security” through the protection and management of “permanent basic farmland.” This directly aligns with the goal of ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The measures focus on protecting a specific terrestrial ecosystem—farmland. The article discusses protecting land from degradation, improving its quality (“subpar quality,” “high-quality arable land”), and managing land use sustainably, which are core components of SDG 15.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article mentions balancing farmland protection with the needs of development, including “major construction projects” and “national land spatial planning.” This relates to integrated planning and management of land use to create sustainable human settlements.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article explicitly allows for “major infrastructure projects such as airports, railways, highways, water transport, and energy and water conservancy facilities” to occupy permanent basic farmland under specific guidelines. This connects the issue of land management to the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article’s primary aim is to “ensure national food security,” which is fundamental to achieving this target.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The article details measures for creating “large, contiguous tracts of high-quality arable land,” establishing “high-standard farmland construction,” and balancing the “quantity and quality” of farmland, all of which contribute to this target.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The policy addresses farmland that suffers from “unreasonable delineation, fragmentation and subpar quality” and aims to replace it with “new high-quality farmland,” directly contributing to the restoration of land quality.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for… integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The article’s reference to “national land spatial planning” and the creation of a system to manage conflicts between farmland protection and “major construction projects” is a direct example of integrated planning.

4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article outlines guidelines for key infrastructure projects, ensuring they are developed within a national planning framework that also protects critical resources like farmland.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for SDG 2 & 15 (Targets 2.4, 15.3)

   • Quantitative Indicator: The article specifies a clear numerical goal: “protecting at least 103 million hectares” of permanent basic farmland. This serves as a direct indicator of the area of agricultural land under protection.
   • Qualitative Indicator: The focus on replacing “subpar quality” land with “high-quality arable land” and “high-standard plots” implies an indicator related to the proportion or area of agricultural land meeting specific quality standards. The measures also mention prioritizing land with “slopes under 15 degrees” and “favorable water and soil resources.”

2. Indicator for SDG 11 (Target 11.3)

   • Policy/Process Indicator: The establishment and implementation of the “reserve zone system for permanent basic farmland” and the regular assessment of “national land spatial planning” are indicators of progress in integrated land use management. The allowance for local authorities to make “annual adjustments” also serves as a process indicator for adaptive management.

3. Indicator for SDG 9 (Target 9.1)

   • Regulatory Indicator: The existence of “guidelines for key construction projects that may occupy permanent basic farmland” is an indicator that infrastructure development is being managed sustainably. The number of major infrastructure projects approved under these guidelines could be a measure of this integration.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: global.chinadaily.com.cn