Evaluation on the willingness of migrants and native farmers to transfer farmland in resettlement areas and their coupled coordination relationships: perspectives for environmental and social sustainability

Abstract

The construction of water conservancy and hydropower projects often involves substantial land acquisition and resettlement. Land is a crucial means of production, playing a significant role in ensuring food security and protecting the ecological environment and social development. However, the advancement of urbanization and changes in production methods have led to a noticeable shift in the behavior of farmers on lands. Abandoned land and reclaimed wasteland in host resettlement areas lead to low land-use efficiency, environmental degradation, and frequent geological disasters. It is important to evaluate the willingness of migrants and native farmers to transfer farmland in the resettlement area and their coupled coordination relationships to realize effective land use. These were evaluated in this study by constructing an index system from personal and family characteristics, land resource endowment, characteristics of the external policy environment, and psycho–cognitive characteristics. The results showed that their coupling degree was 0.999, while their coupling degree of coordination was 0.68. The relative development degree was 1.01. It showed that a strong correlation existed between the willingness of migrants and native farmers, and they were in a basic coordination phase. They influenced each other and reached a basic balanced state. Farmland can be transferred between migrants and native farmers to improve their livelihood, resettle migrants, improve land-use efficiency, and reduce wasteland reclamation. This suggested the possibility of establishing a land transfer resettlement model based on the willingness of migrants and native farmers to achieve environmental and social sustainability in the resettlement area.