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The cooperation for eco-environmental conservation (CEC) as a common countermeasure to eco-environmental problems has been practiced widely in China. However, it has not gotten in-depth study due to lack of the theorization. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to provide a CEC theoretical framework from a new perspective. Using literature analysis method, we classified CEC practices into seven categories according to the cooperation means and drew the progress of CEC practices in China. Then, based on the analyses on the common characteristics and deficiencies of current CEC cases, we proposed the CEC definition and established a CEC framework responding to eco-environmental problems. The framework consists of components of CEC, theoretical bases, construction of CEC mechanism, and supervision and assessment. Of which, the CEC component part depicts the CEC structure. The theoretical bases part points out which theories can be used for CEC. The constructing procedure of CEC mechanism part presents how to set up a complete CEC cases. The supervision and management part demonstrates how to build a justice and effective safeguard mechanism. Eventually, we conclude that the CEC theoretical framework can provide guidance for people when taking a CEC practice, but if becoming a mature theory, it needs to rest on lots of empirical studies and studies of more theoretical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural landscape changes have attracted wide interest from related researchers. Economic factors driving land use changes in rural areas have been studied frequently. Up to now, however, the importance of culture in enhancing the resistance of landscapes to external shocks has not been given attention. In this paper, the key aim is to identify the importance of culture in maintaining agricultural landscapes through analyzing the employment of farmers and taking Hani rice terraces in Southwest China as a case. We employ a questionnaire survey method in this research. The results show that: most farmers in the Hani terraced areas are part-time farmers who are engaged in non-farm jobs in the cities near their hometowns during the slack farming season; Local non-farm work provides the convenience of returning home and avoids difficult employment in distant cities; most people plan to continue farming and support landscape conservation, but do not want the next generation to farm. We found that, in agricultural heritage sites, culture maintains the stability of traditional landscapes through its pull and resistance. The pull drives Hani people to stay in or near their hometown and to persist in farming in the terraces according to well-established land use ways. The resistance makes people hold on to stagnant thinking, poor scientific knowledge, etc. and not adapt to non-local society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring win-win approaches to ecological conservation and community development goals is a central issue in the management of PAs. Achieving sustainable management of ESs in PAs is more of a social governance issue, requiring the SES managers to understand the diverse tradeoffs among ESs and well-beings and design management plans with supportive governance processes and institutions. To solve this issue, ESs importance was chosen as the entry point, which is good at "understanding" but weak in "designing" in most cases. We proposed a "KESs-based PAs management plans formulating framework," which is born out of the ESs importance analysis and knowledge for win-win management in PAs. Through the six steps and two tools ("Identification Methodology for PAs KESs" and the "Standard Strategies for PAs KESs Management") embedded in the framework, the win-win management plan for dual goals could be formulated. By applying the framework in the Shennongjia National Park in China, we obtained three directions for adjusting strategies and eight directions for adjusting measures for the National Park Services to formulate management plans. The framework promotes the sustainable management of ESs in PAs by making up for the gap in applying ESs importance in designing feasible, specific, and systematic management plans with policies and institutions. • Design policies and institutions with ESs importance. • Propose an analysis framework for formulating PAs management plans. • Promotes the sustainable management of ESs in PAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological footprint (EF) is an accepted worldwide method for the evaluation of environmental sustainability. However, its utility is limited by the existence of a series of shortcomings in the methodology such as the only-partial inclusion of human generated wastes. To improve the ability of the footprint method to evaluate environmental sustainability, a new footprint-based indicator – the ‘Waste Absorption Footprint’ (WAF) – has been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to test this methodological approach by evaluating the sustainability of the water environment in the Taihu Lake Basin, in densely populated eastern China. Applying the WAF method indicates that anthropogenic discharges of wastes have imposed an absorption pressure on the local water system such that the local water environment is increasingly unsustainable . Furthermore, nitrogen and phosphorus are identified as more critical wastes than organic substances, while domestic discharges are shown to be more important sources compared with those from industry and agriculture, which therefore should be the focus of environmental management and pollution control initiatives. It is demonstrated that the WAF method can provide a wealth of information that can be used for reference by local water environmental management authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For a better understanding of human demand on the biosphere's capacity to assimilate wastes, this paper introduces a new footprint-based indicator, which is named the ‘Waste Absorption Footprint’ (WAF). The proposal of the WAF is inspired by the idea of building footprints on nature's multiple ecological functions. Within this framework, the WAF is built upon the waste absorptive capacity of the land and water area. This methodological approach is not confined to a particular waste product, but is able to include a variety of wastes generated by human activities. With this method anthropogenic emissions of wastes are translated into absorptive land and water areas. The results can be expressed in units of average hectares by scaling different land-use types in proportion to their relative absorptive capacity. The utility of the ecological footprint in sustainability evaluation can be greatly strengthened by combining the WAF to fully capture environmental effects induced by anthropogenic emissions of wastes. This paper also discusses the relationships of the WAF with other footprints and is intended to inform future debate on footprint accounting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the highlights of the first International Terraced Landscape Conference held in Yunnan Province in south-west China from November 11-15, 2010. Organized by the Yunnan Hani Terrace Institute and sponsored by the World Heritage Center of UNESCO and the Honghe government, the event discussed issues about terraced landscapes, particularly the Hani Rice Terraces.

China has a deep traditional culture and a long history, and is rich in traditional settlements (designated as "Famous Historic-Cultural Villages/Towns", "Chinese Traditional Villages" by Chinese Government). To help people develop these traditional settlements to achieve the great goal of Chinese National Rejuvenation, Chinese scholar put forward the Cultural Landscape Genes of Traditional Settlements (CLGTS) in 2003. Since then, CLGTS theory has been employed to solve the issues of Chinese traditional settlements, such as the identification and regionalization of cultural landscape genes in traditional settlements, and the understanding of architectural features. Although CLGTS theory has made great strides in many application fields, there is still a lack of scientific findings in exploring the symbol mechanism from a perspective of semiotics. To explore this, we firstly examined the core features of CLGTS through a dialectical perspective. We analyzed two features of CLGTS in depth. First, CLGTS is the dialectical combination of macro settlement image and micro cultural factors of traditional settlements, material appearance and inherent traditional cultural implications, overall features and local self-renewal mechanisms, qualitative and quantitative methods, superiority of cultural factors and rich cultural connotation. Second, CLGTS is famous for its nonlinearity, self-organization, and self-iteration due to various spatial shapes and complex structures. Based on the above, we first proposed the concept of Symbolization Method of CLGTS (SM-CLGTS). Then, we further explored the key features, classification methods, and corresponding representation methods of CLGTS symbols. Finally, by using Visual C#.net program language, we developed a prototype system of the Traditional Landscape Genetic Symbol Database (TLGSD) to create and centrally manage CLGTS symbols. Test results show that TLGSD can meet the needs of constructing a CLGTS symbol database for a given region. This study is of great significance to explore and contribute to visualizing the CLGTS symbols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We calculate carbon footprints (CF) of different smallholder tea plantations. • CF of mid-low-altitude plantations is more than twice of that of high-altitude ones. • Fertilizer and electricity inputs contribute greatly to the CF in tea production. • Farmers' adoption of different management measures is driven by tea profits. • Suggestions are made for balancing carbon reduction with economic benefits. The high fertilizer application in tea planting and the large energy consumption in tea processing have raised concerns about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of tea production. China is the world's largest tea production country, but its tea production is dominated by smallholder farmers. Therefore, when it comes to GHG emission reduction in tea production, specific measures need to be developed for the smallholder mode. The purpose of this study is to reveal the characteristics and influencing factors of GHG emissions of smallholder tea plantations, as well as to develop GHG emission reduction measures suitable for the smallholder mode. Here, we focus on Fenghuang Dancong tea and two types of smallholder tea plantations, the high-altitude tea plantation (HTP 1 1 HTP: the high-altitude tea plantation; MLP: the mid-low-altitude tea plantation; CF: carbon footprint; GHG: greenhouse gas; CO 2 -eq: CO 2 emission equivalent; LCA: life cycle assessment.) and the mid-low-altitude tea plantation (MLP), in Fenghuang Town, Chaozhou City, China. The carbon footprint (CF) method is employed, which is a widely used method for estimating GHG emissions and expressed in CO 2 emission equivalent (CO 2 -eq). The assessment on the CF of the Fenghuang Dancong tea production and a comparative analysis between the HTP and the MLP have been made. Results show that (1) at the tea planting stage, fertilizer input is the main contributor to the CF planting ; electricity input is the primary component of the CF processing at the tea processing stage; (2) considering the two stages of tea planting and processing, the CF tea of the MLP is more than twice that of the HTP; (3) the production and management measures adopted by tea farmers have a significant impact on the CF tea , which are mainly driven by economic interests. In view of these findings, we emphasize the importance of balancing GHG emission reduction with economic benefits and propose GHG emission reduction measures such as formulating subsidy policies for organic fertilizers, promoting green and organic product certification, improving the energy input structure and strengthening scientific guidance. We submit that this study will not only help local managers formulate efficient GHG emission reduction measures, but also provide references for other studies on GHG emissions of tea production in the smallholder mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We studied the impacts of an increasingly common change in land use from paddy field to jasmine fields on the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which have supposed the transformation of more than 1200 ha only in the last decade in the surroundings of Fuzhou city in response to economic changes. The possible increases that this can suppose constitutes and environmental concern in China. We studied areas dedicated to rice crop that have been partially converted to jasmine cultivation with some parts still kept as rice fields. Emissions of CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O varied significantly among the seasons. CO 2 and CH 4 cumulative emissions and the global-warming potential (GWP) of these emissions were significantly lower in the jasmine than the paddy field. N 2 O emission, N 2 O cumulative emission, however, were higher in the jasmine than the paddy field, despite in some concrete studied periods the differences were not statistically significant. The total decrease in GHG emissions from the conversion from rice to jasmine production was strongly influenced by the indirect effects of various changes in soil conditions. The expected changes due to the great differences in water and fertilization use and management and organic matter input to soil between these two crops were in great part due to modified soil traits. According to structural equation models, the strong direct effects of the change from rice to Jasmine crop reducing the emissions of CO 2 and N 2 O were partially decreased by the indirect effects of crop type change decreasing soil pH and soil [Fe2+] for CO 2 emissions and by decreasing soil salinity and soil [Fe3+] for N 2 O emissions. The negative effects of the crop conversion on CH 4 emissions were mostly due to the globally negative indirect effects on soil conditions, by decreases in soil salinity, water content and [Fe2+]. Soil salinity, water content, pH, [Fe2+], [Fe3+] and [total Fe] were significantly lower in the jasmine than the paddy field, but temperature had the opposite pattern. CO 2 emissions were generally correlated positively with salinity, temperature, and water content and negatively with [Fe3+] and [total Fe] in both fields. CH 4 emissions were positively correlated with salinity, temperature, water content and pH in both fields. N 2 O emissions were positively correlated with temperature and were negatively correlated with water content, pH, [Fe2+], [Fe3+] and [total Fe] in both fields. CO 2 was the most important GHG for the GWPs, and the total GWP was significantly lower for the jasmine than for the rice cropland field. The change in the land use in this area of paddy fields will decreased the global GHG emission, and the effect on the GWPs was mostly due to changes in soil properties. Highlights • The changes from paddy to Jasmine croplands is increasing in China. • We have investigate the impact of this change on soil GHGs emissions. • This soil use change decreases CO 2 and CH 4 and increases N 2 O emissions. • Overall GWP was lower for the jasmine than for the rice cropland field. • This was due to changes in soil water content, pH and Fe concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The promotion of water-saving irrigation on regional level will bring complex impacts on agricultural production, farmers' welfare, exploitation and utilization of water resource. The policy on the development of water-saving irrigation are not always positive and practical. The overall goal of this study is to analyze the impact on irrigation methods, plantation structure, water consumption and economic benefits brought by drip irrigation under film (DIUF) promotion policy. Based on a field survey in North China Plain, this study set three policy scenarios which limit total irrigation area and total water consumption. The results showed that: In terms of agricultural production and farmers' welfare, DIUF promoted the utilization of irrigation methods (increased by 70%, 70% and 64%). Driven by economic benefits, farmers tend to grow economic crops which are relatively water-consuming to increase net income (increased by 77.54%, 60.72% and 46.52%). On the aspect of regional water resource development and utilization, subsidy on the DIUF increased the total regional water consumption with the change of irrigation methods and plantation structure (increased by 34.27%, 32.20% and 21.84%). Surface and underground water compensation through reflux and leakage decreased (decreased by 78.65%, 70.93% and 73.20%). These results and implications offer an insight to improve strategies and policies that enable to cope with water scarcity in arid area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract How to protect the Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) has become a practical problem to be solved due to its number increasing rapidly. To promote the industrial integration development (IID) in IAHS sites was an essential measure regarded widely. This paper first reviewed IID theories, and then analyzed resources characteristics in IAHS sites and IAHS conservation requirements. Then based on these aspects, an IID theoretical framework was built for IAHS sites. In the theoretical framework, the definition and connotation and the principles that IID should abide by were proposed first, and then an implemented procedure of IID was built. The implemented procedure drew an IID route for IAHS sites, which describes the key indexes of assessment on the IID level, how to analyze resources characteristics, which resource types can be used, how to achieve industrial integration, how to organize operating entities of industries and how to balance benefits of stakeholders. The theory indicated the distinctiveness and key aspects of IID in IAHS sites and suggested how to promote the IID in IAHS sites and which themes are research priorities. Highlights • Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) conservation is a crucial work for IAHS sites. • Promoting Industrial Integration Development (IID) in IAHS sites is an essential protective measure. • IID in IAHS sites is restrained by conservation conditions but also has many resources advantages. • This paper proposes a theoretic framework of IID in IAHS sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global greening and its relationship with climate change remain the hot topics in recent years, and are of critical importance for understanding the interactions between the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and the climate system. China, especially north China, has contributed a lot to global greening during the past few decades. As a water-limited ecosystem, human activities, not precipitation amount, were thought as the main contributor to the greening of north China. Considering the importance of precipitation event characteristics (PEC) in the altered precipitation regimes, we integrated long-term normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and meteorological datasets to reveal the role of precipitation regimes, especially PECs, on vegetation growth across temperate grasslands in north China. Accompanied with a significantly decreased growing season precipitation (GSP), NDVI increased significantly in the largest area of the temperate grasslands during 1982–2015, i.e., greening. We found that 28.44% of the area was explained by PECs, including more heavy or extreme precipitation events, alleviated extreme drought, and fewer light events, while only 0.92% of the area was associated with GSP. NDVI did not always increase over the 30 years and there was a decrease during 1996–2005. Taking afforestation projects in desertified lands into account, we found that precipitation, mainly PECs, explained more the increase and decline of NDVI during 1982–1995 and 1996–2005, respectively, while an equivalent explanatory power of precipitation and afforestation projects to the increase in NDVI after 2005. Our study indicates a possible higher productivity under future precipitation regime scenario (e.g., fewer but larger precipitation events) or intensive afforestation activity, implying more carbon sequestration or livestock production of temperate steppe in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compensation programs ensure the efficacy of water conservation programs and sustainability of interregional water cooperation. Here, a water conservation compensation standard model based on the cost and contribution to benefits regarding water quality and quantity was constructed and then applied to the Paddy Land-to-Dry Land Program (PLDLP) in the Beijing-Hebei region of China. We found that the PLDLP reduced the pollution load of total nitrogen and total phosphorous to downstream areas by 27.63% and 88.53% respectively; runoff to downstream areas increased by 4.22%. Without considering the labor costs of family members, the net income of farmers decreased 41.65%, and the compensation standard was calculated at 5165.41 CNY per ha. From the perspective of social comprehensive value, income generated from becoming migrant worker was treated as an opportunity cost for farmers and under this model the net income of farmers decreased 10.99% and compensation standard was calculated at 1362.95 CNY per ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-compensation is a type of institutional arrangement that uses economic measures to adjust the relationships among stakeholders in order to conserve and/or sustainably use ecosystem services. The externality of the value of ecosystem services is one of the theoretical bases for eco-compensation. Different types of ecosystem services are consumed by people from different regions. Some are consumed by people living where the services originate, while some are carried by rivers, wind, vehicles or other natural or manmade means to other areas. Thus, the flow and consumption of ecosystem services should be seen as the basis for establishing eco-compensation funds. This paper uses satellite images of the Zhang-Cheng area near Beijing in 2013 to discuss how to establish an eco-compensation fund for stakeholders in this area. Firstly, six important types of ecosystem services in the Zhang-Cheng area were identified based on ecological function zoning, and the value of these ecosystem services was calculated based on ecological pricing methods. Secondly, the field intensity model from physics was used to analyze where Zhang-Cheng area ecosystem services flowed and calculate how much of these services were used by other areas. Thirdly, based on this analysis and calculation, the paper proposes the rates that different stakeholders should invest in the eco-compensation fund, based on their consumption of eco-services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Introducing a new method to calculate productivity factor of EF model based on NPP. [•] Calculating China's productivity factors of 4 bio-productive land types. [•] Calculating the productivity factors of different land types in China's 34 provinces. [•] Comparing of productivity factors derived from this paper with other research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the mean annual soil temperature collected with the Pallmann method and data on evaporation, precipitation, and the perennial plant species in 75 monitoring sites in the Mojave Desert from 1982 to 2000, we investigated the interrelationships of soil temperature and aridity on the distribution of several dominant desert scrubs in the Mojave Desert. It showed that the creosote bush-white bursage communities populated in the areas with lower elevation (<1,200 m) and higher soil temperature (>20°C). The sagebrush communities were found in wetter areas with higher elevation (>1,500 m) and lower soil temperature (<18°C). The blackbrush communities occupied areas between the creosote bush-white bursage communities and sagebrush communities. The distribution of yucca species is similarly affected by the soil temperature and aridity. Climate change is expected to significantly alter the distribution patterns of vegetation in Mojave Desert. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Bioenergy is the major domestic energy for rural households in developing countries due to its cheap or easy-getting characteristics. Productive use of bioenergy is an important strategy for rural households to improve not only their income, but also their health, living environment and so on. In Tibet of China, which is rich in cattle dung and firewood as the major energy sources for rural households, the efficiency of energy utilization is just about 10%. In order to improve energy utilization efficiency and the living conditions for rural residents, the Tibet Autonomous Region government introduced residential biogas model (RBM) to local households, which was a comprehensive utilization system of energy integrated with residential biogas digester, vegetable greenhouse and livestock shed. This paper aims to show the productive use of the bioenergy by the RBM, which could be depicted as the feasibility and the benefits on economic, eco-environmental and social aspects of biogas utilization, based on household questionnaires in Panam County. In RBM, biogas digester works as the biomass material supplement loop to transform originally biomass flow from single-direction to recycling-direction. The results indicate that the output of unit biogas digester could replace 1.44t of firewood, 1.65t of agricultural residues and 1.75t of cattle dung, respectively. The net incremental benefit of RBM could reach 5550.72 Yuan in 15 years. The reduced amount of CO2 emission when substituted by biogas in other agricultural areas and the areas of semi-agricultural and semi-husbandry in Tibet could be (76.66–79.89)×104 t/year and the capability for nitrogen storage could achieve (0.39–0.99)×104 t/year. The amount of cattle dung replaced by biogas could reach 78.29×104 t/year; this means that the saved cattle dung, 3.51t/hm2, could be reallocated back to cultivated land to improve the soil fertility and to keep the balance of nutrient elements in cultivated land. Biogas utilization reduces the labor opportunity costs of women compared to use of traditional bioenergy sources. It could be concluded that the productive use of bioenergy through RBM in this area has its capability to release the current pressures on biomass sources by adjusting patterns of rural energy consumption, and to improve the conditions of health, environment, economy and energy conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Correction to: Herit Sci (2021) 9:115 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00589-y Following publication of the original article [[1]], it was reported that the authorship list contained two errors, and that affiliation 2 contained an error. Correction to: Visualizing the cultural landscape gene of traditional settlements in China: a semiotic perspective Reference 1 Hu Z, Strobl J, Min Q, Tan M, Chen F. Visualizing the cultural landscape gene of traditional settlements in China: a semiotic perspective. [Extracted from the article]

We examined the impact of human changes in land use on the concentrations and stoichiometric relationships among soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in a Phragmites australis riparian wetland (Minjiang River estuary, China). We compared a natural (unaltered) wetland with five altered land uses: intertidal mudflat culture and vegetable, flower, fruit and rice cultivations. All these land uses decreased C, N and K soil concentrations relative to those in the P. australis wetland. The close relationship between total soil C and N concentrations, under all land uses, suggested that N was the most limiting nutrient in these wetlands. The lower N concentrations, despite the use of N fertilizers, indicated the difficulty of avoiding N limitation in the agricultural land. Croplands, except rice cultivation, had lower soil N:P ratios than the original P. australis wetland, consistent with the tendency of favoring species adapted to high rates of growth (low N:P ratio). The release of soil C was less and the soil C:N and C:P ratios higher in the natural P. australis riparian wetland than in the croplands, whereas C storage was more similar. The levels of soil C storage were generally opposite to those of C release, indicating that C release by respiration was the most important factor controlling C storage. Cropland soil management promotes faster nutrient and C cycles and changes in soil nutrient stoichiometry. These impacts can further hinder the regeneration of natural vegetation by nutrient imbalances and increase C-cycling and C emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new analysis of inequality of eddy diffusivities for sensible heat (KH) and water vapor (KW). It is shown that the same set of equations, established on the principle of dual-source diffusion, can be applied to both local and regional advection. Various advection scenarios are discussed using a formula that relates KH/KW to the Bowen ratio of the advective source and the observed gradient Bowen ratio (βg) near the ground surface. A similar analysis can also be performed for eddy diffusivities for trace gases.The ratio KH/KW, observed at a well-watered wheat field in the North China Plains, was mostly greater than unity when βg was negative and smaller than unity when βg was positive. The pattern was consistent with the theoretical analysis of the ratio under the influence of regional advection. Some degree of local advection was also suggested by the data. Despite inequality of the eddy diffusivities, there was little systematic bias between the evapotranspiration rates measured with a Bowen ratio/energy balance and an eddy covariance system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of ecological compensation policies on farmers' livelihoods is related to the sustainability of policies and social equity. How do different compensation methods affect farmers' livelihood assets? This paper uses China's Three-River-Source National Park System Pilot Area (TNP) as the research area, and designs three compensation scenarios: cash subsidy, material supply, and technical training. We evaluated the impact of different compensation methods on the livelihood assets of farmers, and reveals the impact path of ecological compensation on different livelihood assets. The results show that cash subsidies can effectively improve the livelihood assets of farmers (17.04%), the five types of livelihood capital distribution are most reasonable under technical training method (0.306); Three compensation methods have improved the human assets of rural households (40.48%, 18.57%, and 0.48% respectively) and physical assets (30.15%, 26.84%, and 9.56% respectively). It also show different effects on farmers' financial assets (44.00%, −11.43%, and 1.14%) and social assets (19.15%, −17.02%, and 10.64%, respectively). Ecological compensation reduced farmers' natural assets (32.89%), but all three compensation methods stimulated farmers to improve their education levels (59.06%, 0.79%, and 7.87%, respectively), which affected farmers' human assets; The improvement of means of production (41.54%, 50.00% and 7.69% respectively) and the family living conditions (75.00%, 25.00% and 75.00% respectively) affect the physical assets of farmers; Changes in natural assets, human assets, and physical assets affect the financial assets of farmers, while social assets is affected by financial assets and human assets. • Cash subsidies can effectively improve the livelihood assets. • Eco-compensation increases human capital by promoting their education level. • Physical capital is increased by living and production conditions improvement. • Natural, human and physical assets will affect financial assets. • Social assets will be affected by financial and human assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eco-compensation targeting agricultural non-point source pollution is considered to have a positive role in the farmland environment. However, the effect depends on how the farmers respond and implement the policies. This paper aimed to understand whether the agricultural eco-compensation changes the farmers' planting decision and to what exten t it affects the input of chemicals. Taking World Heritage, Hani Terraces in southwest China as an example, this paper established a multi-objective production decision model for farmers to analyze the impact of different compensation standards on farmers' planting decisions and welfare. The results showed that, when the eco-compensation standard is relatively low, farmers tend to adopt the planting structure with higher income to make up for the loss caused by reducing chemicals input. With the increase of eco-compensation standard, the input intensity of chemicals (per unit area) continues to decrease. However, the total amount of chemical inputs increases first and then decreases as the planting structure changes. That means, agricultural eco-compensation may not necessarily reduce chemical input. The results show the importance to pay attention to the behavior changes when eco-compensation is designed and implemented and will have a positive effect on the sustainability of the eco-compensation policy. Unlabelled Image • Chemical input intensity decreases with the increase of compensation standards. • Total chemical input is not necessarily reduced as the crop structure changed. • Eco-compensation standards change farmers' planting decisions and income. • It's important to monitor the behavior changes during eco-compensation policy application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]