Study On Regional Standard Of Payment For Ecological Services Between The Upper And Lower Reaches Of River Basin Based On The Externality Theory

River basin is the birthplace of human civilization and habitat for life, and is closely related to people’s production and life, and economic and social development. Due to path dependence of our traditional growth pattern on high consumption and high pollution, and process of industrialization and urbanization at a fast speed, the environment of our river basin has suffered serious pollution and destruction in recent years, which, as a result, poses a threat to people’s life and health, and production and living, and restricts the economic and social sustainable development and ecological civilization construction. Therefore, it is of vital importance and urgency to strengthen the management and protection of ecological environment of river basin further. Practice has proved that payment for ecological services is an effective means of governance and protection of ecological environment of river basin, and the standard of payment for ecological services of river basin is a basic, important and complicated question for payment for ecological services of river basin. It is of vital value in theory and significance in practice for putting the payment for ecological services of river basin into practice and protecting the ecological environment of river basin to further to study on the question of standard of payment for ecological services of river basin deeply and systematically.The paper takes the externality theory as the perspective of the theory and breakthrough point to make researches by focusing on the question of regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin. Theoretical foundation and path method of regional external measurement between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are found by carding and analyzing externality theory systematically and deeply. Then the scientificity and effectiveness of the theory and method is tested by empirical analysis. Based on this, the fundamental principle, thinking method, a means of control and implementation measures of regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are discussed further.The main conclusions of this paper are generalized as follows:(1) The externality theory is taken as the perspective of the theory and starting point to study on the question of regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin for its explanatory and supportive power, which can provide theoretical foundation and method of support for regional standard-setting of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin.(2) Ecological environment of river basin is public goods with distinct externality, therefore, external measurement is an important foundation and key links of regional standard-setting of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin.(3) Learning from the research findings at home and abroad, direct metrological method, revealed preference method and stated preference method of regional external measurement between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are proposed.(4) The measurement of regional externality and payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin on the case of Xiang Jiang River Basin is analyzed empirically by the most widely-used and mature CVM throughout world. It is measured and calculated that residents in the lower reaches of Xiang Jiang River Basin show the WTP with an average maximum WTP of￥44.94per household/month. The aggregate value of WTP of lower reaches of Xiang Jiang River Basin is￥62.61×108annually. Residents in the upper reaches of Xiang Jiang River Basin show the WTA with an average minimum WTA of￥404.53per household/month. The aggregate value of WTA of upper reaches of Xiang Jiang River Basin is￥22.53x109annually. (5) Contingent valuation method, average value calculation method and consultation and game method of regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are proposed on the basis of the analysis of the principle of regional standard-setting of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin. The standard of payment for ecological services of river basin is also firstly categorized as three levels of range standard, basic standard, specific standard independently. In the end, the deviation prevention and standard control in the process of standard-setting are analyzed and discussed systematically.(6) Regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin on the case of Xiang Jiang River Basin is analyzed empirically. It is measured and calculated that range standard and basic standard of regional standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are￥62.61×108～22.53×109and14.39×109independently, the model of specific standard is also formed.(7) Validity and reliability of the research findings of standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin on the case of Xiang Jiang River Basin are tested empirically. It was tested that results are good.(8) A series of policies and measures of the implementation of standard of payment for ecological services between the upper and lower reaches of river basin are proposed from management system, policy instruments, the effect assessment.