Assessment of the impact of China's Sloping Land Conservation Program on regional development in a typical hilly region of the loess plateau-A case study in Guyuan

China's Loess Plateau is one of the world's most ecologically fragile regions and is suffering severe soil erosion. To reduce land degradation, alleviate poverty and stimulate economic development, China began the Sloping Land Conservation Program (SLCP) in 1999. In this study, we comprehensively assessed the impact of the SLCP on regional development in a typical hilly region of the plateau (Guyuan) by quantifying the ecological impact on land use, the economic impact on value added farm products (VAFP) and household income, and the social impact on the employment structure. We found that a portion of the sloping cultivated land was converted into forest and grassland on all slopes. However, part of the cultivated land on steep slopes is still being used for agricultural activity, and some relatively flat cultivated land was withdrawn from cultivation. The VAFP increased from 1999 to 2013, largely due to agricultural intensification by focusing on certain on-farm production and enhancing intermediate inputs. The SLCP helped to relax the liquidity constraint for off-farm employment and promoted change in the cultivation structure, leading to an overall increase in household income. Tree nurseries have a more positive impact on income and off-farm employment than traditional cultivation in the study area. In general, the SLCP contributes to regional development on all three dimensions. Enhanced governmental supervision and proper guidance is needed to consolidate the present achievement and to stimulate the program.