Theoretical framework for eco-compensation to national parks in China

• Published in: Global ecology and conservation 2020-12, Vol.24, p.e01296, Article e01296
• Main Authors: Liu, Moucheng, Yang, Lun, Min, Qingwen, Sang, Weiguo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ecological compensation mechanism; National park; Natural protected area system; Payments for ecosystem services
• ISSN: 2351-9894; 2351-9894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01296

At present, the establishment of a natural protected area system with national parks as the main subject has attracted widespread attention from all corners of Chinese society. Eco-compensation mechanism is an important institutional guarantee for the construction of China’s system for natural protected areas. However, the current research over eco-compensation policies for China’s national parks and relevant practices are far from systematic and lacking of top-level design. Based on the current research and practices of eco-compensation to national parks (NPEC) at home and abroad, this paper has considered China’s requirements for the pilot areas in the national park system, proposed a theoretical framework on the basis of clarifying the connotation of eco-compensation, and thus formulated four key techniques. The techniques include identifying compensation subjects, formulating compensation methods, determining compensation standards, and expanding financing channels, with a view to providing a top-level design for the establishment of an NPEC mechanism in China. •A theoretical framework of eco-compensation to national parks (NPEC) in China is proposed.•The spatial flow of ecoservices is the reason of NPEC, and criteria to determine who, whom, and how much to pay.•NPEC in China include compensation to the ecosystem and environmental-friendly human activities.