The First Community Council Meeting at

Ansi Elementary School

In Dec. 1999, the PF and UPM co-funded for setting up 720 mu of ecological forest field to Ansi Elementary School .

In this area, full of mountains and short of farmland, the flatland with water is where peasants make a living. Moreover, all land was contracted to every family; there was no public land. A difficulty confronted people: where to find 720 mu of land for the school? The community council held the 1 st meeting for the land allocation. Representatives from 9 villages talked one after another and debated endlessly. Someone said: “At the time of building the school, every village contributed money. Now that the school is in Ansi village, it's Ansi's turn to allocate the land.” Ansi representative said: “At the time of building the school, our village contributed not only money and labor but also land, we won't allocate land any more this time.” The representative from the neighbor village reputed: “It's because the school is in your village, your village had teachers. You should cede the land.”

During confrontation, Shuren Liang, the PF volunteer and the secretary of the Town Party Committee stood up and said: “Let's talk it over. Is it good or bad to plant trees?” Villager Dehong Liu broke the silence and said: “Of course, it's a good thing.” Secretary Liang asked further: “Since it is so, why decline back and fro?” Suddenly all people understood. Then the dispute started again: “To our village, we have better land.” “We have a big population, more labor.” “Our village has water, it's useful to plant trees.”… Pihong Hu, the secretary of Ansi village stood up and said: “Our village has a large area of land. Farmland is easy to allocate, more population to shift. In addition, the school is in our village, it's convenient to teach children to protect forest from childhood. Our village can cede the land.”

Finally the meeting reached a resolution: “Ansi and Baizhuang allocate 20 mu of flatland and 700 mu of connected mountain land to the school. Shenzhuang, Yushutai, Niuxintai and Pashupan volunteer to clear up the land and plant trees.”

In early Jan. 2000, villagers from 9 villagers together strove to finish 720 mu of stones and earth. Children finally possessed their own piece of permanent developed forestland.