Influence of rural labor migration behavior on the transfer of forestland

Abstract

AbstractThis study analyzes the influence mechanism of migration on farmers' forestland transfer behavior by using instrumental variable‐Probit and instrumental variable‐Tobit models based on survey data of 505 households in 50 villages in 10 sample counties in Jiangxi Province. The results show that the farmers' willingness to transfer forestland is generally not high, but there is a great difference in the influence of intra‐county migration and outside‐of‐county migration on the transfer behavior of farmers. Outside‐of‐county migration promotes the renting out of forestland and inhibits renting it in, whereas intra‐county migration does not affect either. In addition, households' human capital, forestland resource endowments, policy systems, and locational environment factors all have different degrees of influence on farmers' transfer behavior. According to the analysis, improving rural laborers' job skills through training can deepen the reform of collective forestland.Recommendations for Resource Managers This study uses econometric models to reflect the influence of intra‐county migration and outside‐of‐county migration on households' forestland transfer and provides a foundation for the sustainable development of forestland. The factors affecting the renting in or out of forestland strongly differ according to intra‐ and outside‐of‐county migration. Outside‐of‐county migration promotes the renting out of forestland and inhibits renting it in, whereas intra‐county migration does not affect either. To encourage forestland transfer and achieve sustainable forest development, managers should concentrate on improving the rural laborers' job skills through training, continuing the reform of collective forestland, and coordinating the relationship between farmers and forestland.