Research on ecological compensation based on the supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Qinling-Daba Mountains

Quantifying the spatial displacement process of ecosystem service flow (ESF) between supply, connection and demand is the key to deeper understanding of the spatial mechanism of ecosystem service (ES) action, and is an important basis for accurate identification of ecological compensation (EC) areas and accounting of compensation standards. At present, there are few studies on the spatial flow process of ecosystem service flows between supply and demand areas, which are at the stage of conceptual analysis and lack of quantitative simulation studies. In view of this, the supply and demand matching of Qinling-Daba Mountains carbon sequestration and water yield services were quantitatively assessed by model simulation methods, and the supply and benefit areas of ecosystem services were identified. Based on the gravity model and breakpoint formula, a comparative ecological radiation force (CERF) model is proposed to simulate the flow path and ecosystem service flow of regional ecosystems, and quantitatively evaluate the total amount of ecological compensation. The results are as follows: (1) there is a mismatch between supply and demand of the two ecosystem services, urban areas are more mismatched than rural areas. (2) The two ecosystem services have surpluses in most areas (such as Diebu County, Lushi County, Xiahe County, Badong County, etc.), which made the ecosystem service flow mainly occur in areas with more ecosystem service surpluses. (3) The total amount of ecological compensation is about 1.5 billion RMB, including 0.12 billion RMB for carbon sequestration services and 1.38 billion RMB for water yield services. This study not only provided theoretical support for sustainable ecological-economic development in mountainous areas, but also laid the foundation for the government to formulate ecological compensation policies.