[Objective] Taking Xiangjiang river basin in Hunan Province as the research object, we studied the compensation for watershed ecology, in order to provide the theory basis for pollution comprehensive treatment and regional balanced development in Xiangjiang River basin.[Methods] The standard coefficient of ecological compensation was determined by comparing the value of 2012 GDP per capita, the total population, the per capita gross industrial production value and the discharging quantity of sewage per ten thousand yuan GDP with the average value in eight cities(Changsha, Xiangtan, Zhuzhou, Hengyang, Yueyang, Yongzhou, Chenzhou and Loudi). The excessive and unused quantity of sewerage drainage was calculated by the differences between per capita value of each city with the average values. The compensation price was determined according to the proportion of main factors price and the sewerage drainage in each city. The ultimate standard of compensation was considered according to the ecological compensation standard coefficient in Xiangjiang river basin.[Results] The ecological compensation funds for Changsha, Zhuzhou, Xiangtan, Hengyang, Yueyang, Chengzhou, Yongzhou and Loudi City was 40.050, 4.407, 4.301, 3.382, 0.904, 5.614, 6.028 and 3.795 million yuan, respectively.[Conclusion] Quantity of sewerage drainage in Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan City are more than the theory emission permits, while the actual sewerage drainage in other 5 cities were less than the permits.