Ecological Compensation Standard of a Water-Receiving Area in an Inter-Basin Water Diversion Based on Ecosystem Service Value and Public Willingness: A Case Study of Beijing

Zhuoyue Peng,Maohua Ding,Rui Zheng,Lin Xu,Hao Wu,Min Li,Xi Huang

doi:10.3390/su13095236

Abstract

Ecological compensation has recently gained significant attention as an economic incentive promoting natural resource management. However, there remain several challenges to its application. A key issue is the lack of a method clearly define the standard of ecological compensation. This study established an accounting methodology for the ecological compensation standard for the water-receiving area in an inter-basin water diversion in China. Beijing, a major water-receiving area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, was used as an example of the application of this approach. First, the evaluation index of ecosystem service value of the water-receiving area was selected, then, emergy theory was used to calculate the increment of ecological service value based on the characteristics of each indicator. The ecological service value due to the project was calculated to be 3.898 billion RMB, while the willingness-to-pay by the public was estimated at 915 million RMB. Therefore, the increment of ecological service value was the highest standard of compensation, and the public’s willingness-to-pay was the lower limit of ecological compensation. The final compensation standard can be determined through negotiation between suppliers and beneficiaries under the leadership of relevant governments and water-transfer authorities. Thus, this study aimed to provide a scientific basis for the construction of diversified ecological compensation mechanisms and promote sustainable development of the region.

Highlights

During rapid development of the global economy, the disequilibrium between the population, economy, resources and the environment is very severe
The proportion of the value attributable to climate regulation, net primary productivity, carbon sequestration, oxygen release, and biomass, were less than 0.1%, which indicated that the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP)
The indices directly related to the volume of water transferred were water supply, water purification, ecological replenishment of rivers, water regulation and storage, prevention of land subsidence, and these accounted for 76.27% of the total eco-environmental value

Summary

Introduction

During rapid development of the global economy, the disequilibrium between the population, economy, resources and the environment is very severe. In the management of inter-basin water transfers, the utilization and protection of water resources remain poorly coordinated. Due to the need for coordinated development of the ecology and social economy in water-receiving areas, it is important to establish an ecological compensation mechanism in the water-receiving area of an inter-basin water-transfer diversion. The basic concept is that the beneficiaries of ecological services should compensate the providers, to regulate the relationship between social development and ecological protection through economic means. This could enable ecological protection and restoration to form a virtuous circle [3,4,5].

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Discussion

Conclusion