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Using Ecosystem Service Flows to Inform Ecological Compensation: Theory & Application

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolong Gao

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Binbin Huang

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Ying Hou

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Weihua Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Hua Zheng

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Dongchun Ma

    (Beijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Zhiyun Ouyang

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China)

Abstract

Ecological compensation is a crucial policy instrument that realigns the benefits of stakeholders to the ecosystem service provision. However, the spatial disconnections between locations where ecosystem services produced and used are common. The supply and demand for ecosystem services are calculated to reflect the status of the districts or counties based on ecosystem service flows. The replacement cost methods provide necessary technical supports for the calculation of compensation funds. The realigning of compensation funds between service-benefiting areas and service-providing areas not only identifies the beneficiaries and suppliers but also realizes the connection between them, which may be a feasible methodology. Fuzhou City is the study area, and two ecosystem services of water conservation and soil retention were taken into consideration. The prioritized development zone, Linchuan, and the key agricultural production zones paid ecological compensation funds. Linchuan paid the highest, 5.76 billion yuan. The key ecological function zones and the key agricultural production zones received the ecological compensation funds, of which Yihuang obtained the highest, 1.66 billion yuan. The realigning of compensation funds between the service benefiting and providing areas addresses the trade-offs between ecosystem services, social development, and ecosystem protection. Embedding the ecosystem service flows into the ecological compensation mechanism can most truly realize the value of ecosystem services, achieve the “beneficiary pays” principle, and be conducive to regional sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolong Gao & Binbin Huang & Ying Hou & Weihua Xu & Hua Zheng & Dongchun Ma & Zhiyun Ouyang, 2020. "Using Ecosystem Service Flows to Inform Ecological Compensation: Theory & Application," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3340-:d:356736
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Yaoxi Ma & Shufang Tian, 2024. "Simulation of Urban Carbon Sequestration Service Flows and the Sustainability of Service Supply and Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Hao Chen & Erdan Wang & Nuo Wang & Tao Song, 2023. "Research on Embodied Carbon Transfer Measurement and Carbon Compensation among Regions in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Yubing Wang & Kai Zhu & Xiao Xiong & Jianuo Yin & Haoran Yan & Yuan Zhang & Hai Liu, 2022. "Assessment of the Ecological Compensation Standards for Cross-Basin Water Diversion Projects from the Perspective of Main Headwater and Receiver Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-31, December.
    5. Tianlin Zhai & Linke Wu & Yuanmeng Chen & Mian Faisal Nazir & Mingyuan Chang & Yuanbo Ma & Enxiang Cai & Guanyu Ding & Chenchen Zhao & Ling Li & Longyang Huang, 2022. "Ecological Compensation in the Context of Carbon Neutrality: A Case Involving Service Production-Transmission and Distribution-Service Consumption," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Qilong Shao & Li Peng & Yichan Liu & Yongchang Li, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Urban Ecosystem Services: Structure, Evolution, and Prospects," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, January.

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