How Eco-Efficiency Is the Forestry Ecological Restoration Program? The Case of the Sloping Land Conversion Program in the Loess Plateau, China

The Forestry Ecological Restoration Program (FERP) aims to restore the world's degraded forest landscapes to restore biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Scientific evaluation of eco-efficiency of forestry restoration programs (EEoFERPs) is the basis for developing and implementing inclusive and sustainable development policy measures. We take the world's largest FERP-China's Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP)-as an example. Using 314 county-level panel data in the Loess Plateau, the core area for the implementation of the SLCP, during 2002-2015, this study aims to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the Sloping Land Conversion Program (EEoSLCP) based on a DEA model and to measure the eco-efficiency dynamic changes through a Malmquist index model. The results show that: (1) The overall EEoSLCP of the Loess Plateau is at a low level, with an average efficiency of only 0.357 from 2002 to 2015. EEoSLCP is on an overall upward trend, mainly influenced by technical efficiency. (2) There are significant spatial differences in EEoSLCP among counties on the Loess Plateau, with an overall decreasing distribution trend from south to north and from southeast to northwest. (3) The Malmquist index of the EEoSLCP grew at an average annual rate of 17.7%, with technical efficiency changes being the most important factor driving its growth. Our results suggest that in the future, when implementing or designing FERPs, it is necessary not only to select the appropriate restoration plan precisely while respecting the laws of nature, but also to improve the management and technical level of FERPs accordingly.