The Eco-Compensation Mechanism in Tai Lake Watershed

Abstract

Tai Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. Serious water pollution, especially trans-jurisdictional water pollution, problems are consistent issues in the region. To deal with these problems, four types of the eco-compensation mechanism are applied in this region: eco-compensation between governments, eco-compensation between governments and farmers, eco-compensation between governments and industry and eco-compensation among industries. This chapter analyses these four types of the eco-compensation mechanism from a legal perspective and sheds light on how the mechanism has been applied in China. It aims to provide valuable experiences for domestic water management and elsewhere in the world in protecting the provision of water-related ecosystem services.