Purpose/SignificanceAs an important means of coordinating the interests of all parties in the river basin ecosystem, a scientific and reasonable river basin ecological compensation mechanism helps to achieve the coordinated development of the entire river basin resources, environment, and economy and society, and changes the "green water and green mountains" into "golden mountains and silver mountains". The current ecological compensation mechanism of river basins from the perspective of China's traditional "process" restricts the healthy operation of river basin ecological economy.

Design/MethodologyFrom the perspective of the main body of the ecosystem of the river basin, adhering to the basic principles of equal rights and responsibilities, fairness and openness, co-construction and sharing, multi-participation, government-led, market main body, compensation first, precision of poverty alleviation and other aspects, this paper builds a river basin ecological compensation mechanism with "government guidance, market operation, social participation, communication and connection, system operation, and scientific management."

Findings/ConclusionThis mechanism is helpful to realize the marketization and diversified transformation of the ecological compensation mechanism in China's river basins, and to promote the construction of China's ecological civilization system.