Eco-compensation of wetlands in Yellow River Delta of Shandong Province, China

Wetlands play an important ecological role and provide many functions for people, yet wetlands are currently decreasing and deteriorating. The ability to calculate an economic value for the loss of wetlands is becoming increasingly important for policy makers. In this study, remote sensing, field investigations, department visits, and other methods were used to survey wetland types, assess wetland area changes, and calculate wetland economic value. Market value loss and ecological function value loss, caused by reduction of wetland area and environmental pollution were calculated using commonly accepted methods of market valuation, ecological valuation, environmental protection investment cost analysis, and outcome parameters. According to market value loss and ecological function value loss, preliminarily fund allocation for wetland and ecological compensation was calculated. This will provide an important reference for future Yellow River Delta eco-compensation studies.