Efficiency Measurement and Influencing Factors of Ecological Compensation: A Case Study from Wuqi and Zhidan on the Loess Plateau

It is of great significance to measure and evaluate vegetation restoration efficiency of ecological compensation (VREoEC) in an ecological project. However, the output efficiency of ecological compensation is still unclear, and its influencing factors need further exploration. In this research, Wuqi and Zhidan, two pioneer counties in China's Grain for Green (GFG) project, were taken together as the study area, and remote sensing vegetation indices were used to reflect the vegetation coverage level, and the geographically-weighted regression model was applied to measure the VREoEC in the GFG project. Then, the classic multiple linear regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of VREoEC. The findings were as follows: (1) while the overall vegetation coverage in the study area was improved greatly, the VREoEC showed noticeable spatial trend and accumulation, and suffered from regional water-heat distribution; (2) local terrain, micro-climate conditions, rural roads density, classified highway, and intensity of ecological compensation affected the VREoEC; and (3) because local natural and socio-economic conditions can affect the VREoEC, ecological compensation measures need to be formulated according to local conditions. Thus, this study provides a methodological reference and corresponding policy suggestions.