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Updated: Dec 19, 2025
06:02
A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
Published on: December 16, 2022
2.3K
Using gross ecosystem product (GEP) to value nature in decision making
Zhiyun Ouyang1,2, Changsu Song1,2, Hua Zheng1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China.
Summary
Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) measures nature's economic contributions, unlike GDP. In China's Qinghai province, GEP exceeded GDP in 2000 and restoration efforts significantly boosted ecosystem services.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Economics
- Ecosystem Valuation
- Natural Capital Accounting
Background:
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a primary economic indicator but omits nature's contributions.
- Valuing ecosystem services is crucial for sustainable development and policy-making.
- A comprehensive metric is needed to integrate natural capital into economic assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) metric.
- To quantify the economic value of ecosystem services.
- To assess the role of ecosystem services in regional economies.
Main Methods:
- Development of a monetary valuation framework for ecosystem services.
- Application of the GEP metric to Qinghai Province, China.
- Analysis of GEP trends in relation to GDP and restoration investments.
Main Results:
- Water-related ecosystem services constitute a significant portion (nearly two-thirds) of Qinghai's GEP.
- GEP was higher than GDP in Qinghai in 2000 and 75% of GDP in 2015.
- Ecosystem service flows, measured by GEP, increased by 127.5% following restoration investments.
Conclusions:
- GEP provides a tractable measure of nature's economic value.
- GEP highlights the substantial economic contribution of ecosystem services, particularly water-related ones.
- China is integrating GEP into policy for green growth, including transregional compensation payments for ecosystem conservation.
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