Method and application of impact assessment of land consolidation project

In China, land consolidation projects are often associated with government-funded engineering works which have wide and profound impacts on the region ecosystem and socioeconomic system. Analysis of the changes caused by land consolidation projects and theirs impacts could improve the methodological principles underlying land consolidation, and also support the decision-making processes of the land consolidation authorities. In this paper, a land consolidation project (LCP) in Tianmen city of Hubei province in central China was evaluated by the GIS techniques, comprehensive index model and ecosystem service value evaluation methods, focusing on the changes of the plot size and shape, the density and connectivity of field-roads and irrigation systems, the area of cropland and the land use type before and after the application of LCP. The LCP showed both positive and negative effects on the region ecosystem and socioeconomic system in the study area. The value of agricultural productivity index was increased from 41.06 to 76.86. The tillage time was decreased from 65 min/hm2 to 50 min/hm2, with a decrease rate of 23.08%. The numbers of plots per household was decreased from 2.69 to 1.25, which reducing the moving time of farmers between plots. Moreover, the total value of ecosystem services in the study area was decreased from 12.26×106 Yuan to 11.62×106 Yuan annually with a decrease of 0.64 million Yuan, due to the decreased area of ponds and unused lands.