Abstract: In this study, the buffer zone and experimental areas of Yancheng Rare Birds National Nature Reserve was taken as the study area for the evaluation of the ecological compensation amount and the spatial distribution characteristics of returning farmlands and aquaculture ponds to wetlands (RFW and RAW) on the basis of 3S technology, market economic survey and ecological compensation adjustment coefficient. The results show that the amount of ecological compensation per unit area of RFW and RAW were 7 400-13 200 Yuan·hm^-2·a^-1 and 0.066 8-1.127 4 million Yuan·hm^-2·a^-1, respectively, with the average amount of 10 900 and 358 100 Yuan·hm^-2·a^-1, respectively. Among all aquaculture pond types, the amounts of compensation per unit area of shrimp, fish, crab and crab fry ponds were relatively higher than other types, with the average amount of 1.076 7 million, 0.535 7 million and 0.445 5 million Yuan·hm^-2·a^-1, respectively. The amount of ecological compensation per unit area of portunid (Portunus trituberculatus) and ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda) ponds area in the second experimental area in the south was the lowest, with only 66 800 Yuan·hm^-2·a^-1. The total amount of ecological compensation was 0.04×10⁸-87.87×10⁸ Yuan·a^-1 in the study area, of which the buffer area in the south was the highest and the central experimental area was the lowest. The total amount of ecological compensation had obvious grade difference in spatial scale, and the spatial correlation Moran' I between the whole study area and the functional areas was prominent.