[Objective] It is necessary to study the ecological value and ecological compensation to make full use of the advantages of the rich ecological resources in Enshi area, Hubei Province, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of regional ecological compensation mechanism.[Methods] Based on the related remote sensing and statistic data, the value of ecosystem services in Enshi area in 2000 and 2010 was calculated, and the ecological value, ecological compensation amount and ecological compensation priority index in 2010 was analyzed.[Results] (1) The total ecosystem service value of Enshi in 2000 and 2010 was 7.84×10⁷ and 5.88×10⁷, respectively. The calculated value equivalent of the ecological service functions in Enshi areas decreased by 25.07% during the past 10 years. (2) The total value of the ecosystem services of Enshi in 2010 was 2.89×10¹⁰ yuan, and the ecological compensation priority order was as follows:Hefeng, Xuanen, Lichuan, Xianfeng, Badong, Jianshi, Enshi and Laifeng County.[Conclusion] There is a positive correlation between the ecological compensation priority index and the proportion of poor villages and the ecosystem value per capita. Similarly, there is a positive correlation between the ecosystem value per capita and the proportion of poor villages.