Farmers' tea and nation's trees: A framework for eco-compensation assessment based on a subjective-objective combination analysis

J Environ Manage. 2020 Sep 1:269:110775. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110775. Epub 2020 May 17.

Abstract

The effectiveness and sustainability of eco-compensation policy implementation are essential to ecosystem service protection. However, a purely subjective standpoint causes deviations from the compensation benchmark, while decision-making based solely on an objective standpoint fails to offer a profound understanding of local stakeholder conflicts. Therefore, local authorities find it difficult to set reasonable and effective eco-compensation implementation standards. An assessment framework for eco-compensation, defined as the subjective-objective combination analysis (SOCA), which considers both the subjective and objective positions of stakeholders is proposed. Focusing on a typical eco-compensation case, "Returning Tea to Forest", a compensation range is finally quantified from $443/ha to $2114/ha per year using the SOCA framework. SOCA quantification from multiple perspectives optimized the eco-compensation benchmark determinations and the eco-protection decision-making process.

Keywords: Eco-compensation; Forest ecosystem services; SOCA framework; Stakeholder conflicts.

MeSH terms

  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Ecosystem*
  • Farmers
  • Humans
  • Tea
  • Trees*

Substances

  • Tea