Study On Ecological Compensation Standard And Mechanism Of South-to-North Water Diversion In Hanjiang River Water Resource Basin

South-to-North water transfer project is one of the most important hydraulic projects in China in the 21 century. This project including the Eastern route.Middle route and Western route while the Middle route was planed to transfer the high quality surface water from the Hanjiang River and Danjing River, which located in southern region of Shaanxi province, to Tianjing, Tangshan and Beijing for industrial and domestic purposes. However, the water quality of the Hanjiang River is decreasing due to the soil loss and water pollution in recent years. As a result, the economic development ratio was significantly affected. Therefore, it is crucial to figure out the ecological compensation standard and methodsThis study investigated the social, economic and environmental development in the southern region of the Shaanxi province. All the data related to those aspects were collected and analyzed. The assessment on the validity and efficiency of the current ecological compensation policies was carried out based on the detailed investigation in the same area. Meanwhile, considering the need of water resource protection, this study suggested that multi-factor method could be used for both the water resource and ecological compensation. The most suitable ecological compensation standard was carried out using the results obtained from three multi-factor methods. Final, the most practicable ecological compensation method was also suggested in this study. Specific findings of this study are summarized below:(1) The investigations that conducted in three cities and five counties shown that the waste water and the waste solid from both the industrial and domestic utilization were the dominating source that result in the water pollution. Particularly, the water quality of the water resource, which function as the water resource for the South-to-North water transfer project, was significantly affected by the wastewater and waste solid. While, the ecological system was improved and soil loss was reduced due to the forest protection project. Although these have been achieved, the ecological protection and ecological compensation policy need to be enforced. Meanwhile, the human behaviors were shown to be the dominating factor for causing the ecological crisis in the water resource region. This study shown that conflict between the need of water resource protection and the need of economic development cause the decrease in water quality.(2) It is necessary to carry out the water resource protection project and the ecological compensation project to improve the people's life level in the water resource area and to ensure the water quality for the targeted cities (such as Beijing) of the South-to-North water transfer project. The water resource protection project is including natural forest protection project, farmland-to-forestry conversion project, water and soil conservation project, wastewater treatment project, waste solid disposal project and environmental quality monitoring project. While the ecological compensation project is including the compensation for economic development, for resident resettlement and for developing area. The investment for the water resource protection project is 30,311,852,500RMB while the investment for the ecological compensation is 15400000,000 RMB. The total investment for the two projects is 45,711,852,500 RMB. .(3) Based on the comparison of the results from the opportunity cost method, the cost analysis method and the water resource method, this study suggested that the compensation standard should be figured out using the water resource method. The benefited region should pay the ecological compensation fee of 1 billion RMB per year. The multi-factor compensation method was suggested for determining the suitable ecological compensation method. The investment from the government should be increased accordingly while the policy for aiding the environmental protection project and economic development project should be carried out. These policies and compensation methods and standard could ensure the water quality of the South-to-North water transfer project, the improvement in life level and economic development in the water resource region.