Standards and Priority of Payment for Ecosystem Services for the Grasslands of Maqu County
草地生态系统生态补偿标准和优先度研究——以甘肃省玛曲县为例

As grassland ecosystems deteriorate their value is being increasingly recognized. Payment for ecosystem services is an economic measure to improve the protection of grassland ecosystems. Standards and priority of payment for ecosystem services have received much attention, and these factors directly affect the fairness and effectiveness of payment for ecosystem services. Here we use the grassland ecosystem of Maqu County as a case study. We analyzed participation costs and grassland ecosystem service contributions for each town. Participation costs, including opportunity costs, implementation costs and transaction costs, were constructed to determine the standards of payment for ecosystem services across Maqu County. The risk-benefit cost ratio was calculated to indicate the priority degree of payment for ecosystem services. Using the administrative divisions of each town as spatial boundaries of payment for ecosystem services and taking the degree of payment for ecosystem services, all towns in Maqu County were divided into three types of compensation zones. The priority degree of payment for ecosystem services is the same as the efficiency of payment for ecosystem services in the three types of compensation zones. Priority compensation zones are the most efficient. In the initial period of payment for ecosystem services, the standards equal participation costs. In the middle and final periods, the standards are the sum of the opportunity costs and transaction costs. In the initial period of payment for ecosystem services, the priority compensation zones cover Nima, Manrima and Oula, and the standards are 3811.20 Yuan/hm2·a), 3889.77 Yuan/(hm2·a), and 3763.20yuan/(hm2·a). The second degree compensation zones cover Awancang, Qihama and Cairima, and the standards are 4080.83 Yuan/(hm2·a), 4211.77 Yuan/(hm2·a), and 4120.93 Yuan/(hm2·a). The third degree compensation zones cover Oulaxiuma and Muxihe, and the standards are 4067.48 Yuan/(hm2·a) and 3173.91 Yuan/hm2·a. With the restoration of grassland ecosystems it is necessary to construct dynamic monitoring systems to improve the utilization rate of payments for ecosystem services and adjust standards and priorities. This system should transform the breeding mode of livestock, effectively release labor resources and result in industrial structural adjustment to coordinate the use and protection of the grassland ecosystem and ensure the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems in Maqu County.