Investigating a Method for a Horizontal Comprehensive Eco-Compensation Standard of Interregional Ecological Regulating Services

Horizontal eco-compensation lacks effective solutions for implementing comprehensive multifactor compensation and determining the compensation standard. To meet those needs, a method named entropy flat surface was proposed and put into practice. However, some scientific problems were found. More specifically, the measurement method of the ecological value was controversial, and the value diffusion model did not reflect the change in the value gradient caused by spatial distance, while the value diffusion had an unclear scope. Therefore, this work optimized and studied the entropy curved-surface method in the case of E’zhou City. The main goal was to build a value-surface model of ecological regulating services based on maximum entropy production. As far as a tangible normal distribution surface is concerned, the model was more consistent with the ecosystem’s energy flow characteristics. The external output of value could be precisely expressed by the dynamic and stable expansion state of the surface model. Therefore, the eco-compensation relations and results were clear. Theoretically, the E’Cheng and Huarong Districts should pay a total of 114 million CNY to the Liangzi Lake District. Our work provided a new perspective, in terms of finding a rule of the ecological regulating service values of the macro morphological structure, simulating the transmission and diffusion of multiple values in interregional areas, solving the calculation problem of the horizontal ecological comprehensive compensation standard, and clarifying the relations of compensation.