Forestland transfer between rural households in Jiangxi, China: Differentiated effects of actual and perceived tenure security

This study analyzes the potentially differentiated impacts of actual and perceived tenure security on rural households' forestland transfer behavior. Logit and Tobit models were estimated using repeated survey data from 505 households in 50 villages of Jiangxi Province during 2017–2018. The results show that there is a great difference in the influence of actual and perceived tenure security on the transfer behavior. Issuing forest tenure certificates promotes the renting out of forestland by households but has no significant effect on forestland renting in. Meanwhile, perceived tenure security has a significant effect on forestland transfer behavior. Households' understanding and evaluation of the existing tenure policy also has a significantly positive impact on household's rent‐out behavior. Further, the logging quota system has a significantly negative effect on household's renting in and out behavior. Our analysis suggests that the government should strive to improve the awareness of rural families regarding forest tenure policy and that the logging quota should be modified to incentivize farmers' active participation in forest management.