Comprehensive evaluation of returning cropland to forest andgrassland in the arid andsemiarid region A case study of Yuzhong County

It is important to comprehensively evaluate the benefit of the conversion from cropland to forest and grassland, which will help to determine whether the conversion from cropland to forest and grassland continues. At present, the benefit evaluation of the conversion from cropland to forest and grassland has been conducted in the region scale, however, the evaluation in a county scale is fewer. This study established the index system of the conversion from cropland to forest and grassland for county scale by taking the Yuzhong County as an example, and this index system was used to evaluate the comprehensive benefit of conversion from cropland to forest and grassland of the Weiying Township of Yuzhong County. The evaluation result showed the score of comprehensive benefit of this township was 70.85 points, which was at good level. The score of ecological benefits was 74.8 points and it was at good level. The score of economic benefit was 55.5 points, which was at medium level. The score of social benefit was 78.2 points and it was at good level.