Public willingness to pay watershed eco-compensation in China's Taihu basin: A case study

Eco-compensation is effective in promoting the sustainable development of a watershed. The exploration of the public's willingness to pay for such compensation, along with the corresponding influencing factors, are important for improving the efficacy of eco-compensation programs. However, motivating the public to participate in eco-compensation remains a challenge. In this study, the influencing factors behind public willingness to participate in eco-compensation in China's Taihu Basin are measured using a contingent valuation method and a random forest model. The main results are as follows: 1) In the Taihu Basin, the mean people are willing to pay for eco-compensation is 287.344 CNY/person/year. 2) The significant factors influencing willingness to pay are recognition of the importance of watershed protection; the impact of the watershed environment on people's lives; annual incomes; and perceived improvements to the watershed environment over the past five years. 3) Awareness of the need for environmental protection can encourage people to pay eco-compensation. This study provides references that governments can use to formulate and implement eco-compensation policies and hence promote public participation in those policies.

Automated summary

This study measures the influencing factors behind public willingness to participate in eco-compensation in China's Taihu Basin using a contingent valuation method and a random forest model. The main results show that factors such as recognition of the importance of watershed protection, the impact of the watershed environment on people's lives, annual incomes, and perceived improvements to the watershed environment over the past five years significantly influence willingness to pay.