[Objective] In order to understand the ecological benefits of returning farmland to forest in Baoji City, and to provide reference for related ecological research.[Methods] Based on the area data of returning farmland to forest in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province from 1999 to 2015, this paper computed the ecological benefits arising from the protection of water, conservation of soil, carbon sequestration, purification of the environment, improvement of microclimate and conservation of biological diversity, in reference to the appendix of ecological benefit physical quantity evaluation formula and reference setting for returning farmland to forest project in ecological benefit monitoring and assessment technique and management norm of returning farmland to forest project.And the ecological value of returning farmland to forest project was also calculated using the shadow project and shadow price method in Baoj City.[Results] The total value of forest ecological benefit from 1999 to 2015 in Baoji City was 1.06×10¹⁰ RMB, in which the protection of water resources and carbon sequestration & oxygen production contributed the most, the proportions were 36.8% and 27%. The conservation of biological diversity contributed 22.8% of it; The improvement of the microclimate, soil conservation and environmental purification value contributed 12.2%. 0.8% and 0.4% of it, respectively.[Conclusion] It can be seen that the project of returning farmland to forests plays an important role in water conservation and improvement of the environment in Baoji City. And it is of great significance for the protection of water resources and the improvement of air quality in this area.