Five departments: By 2027, a unified horizontal ecological protection compensation mechanism will be established for the main streams of the Yangtze River and Yellow River.

The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, and State Forestry and Grassland Administration have issued "Opinions on Further Improving the Cross-sectional Ecological Protection Compensation Mechanism", proposing that by 2027, a unified cross-sectional ecological protection compensation mechanism should be established for the Yangtze River and Yellow River main stems. Various regions should basically establish cross-regional basin-level cross-sectional ecological protection compensation mechanisms covering key rivers within their jurisdiction, steadily promote the construction of cross-basin major water diversion projects' cross-sectional ecological protection compensation mechanisms, and explore the construction of cross-sectional ecological protection compensation mechanisms for forest, grassland, atmosphere, wetland, desert, marine, water flow, farmland, and other ecological environment elements. By 2035, the construction of cross-sectional ecological protection compensation mechanisms in river basins will be deepened, fully covering the main stems and important tributaries of key basins such as the Yangtze River and Yellow River, and expanding to a wider range, deeper connotation, and richer forms. The quality of the ecological environment will continue to improve, the ecosystem service functions will continuously enhance, the living environment of urban and rural areas will significantly improve, national ecological security will be effectively guaranteed, the ecological environment governance system will be more sound, and the achievements of building a beautiful China will be significant.