State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) Will Develop Ecological Compensation Experiment Sites in Four Areas Including Natural Protection Zones

In order to promote the ecological compensation mechanism, improve environment-related economic policies and promote ecological environmental protection, China's State Environmental Protection Administration recently issued Guidance Concerning Pilot Projects on Ecological Compensation, which announces that China will develop ecological compensation experiment sites in four areas including natural protection zones. SEPA said the pilot projects are expected to help build up standard ecological compensation system in key areas so as to promote the formulation and improvement of relevant ecological compensation policies, rules and regulations, in order to lay a solid foundation for the overall construction of an ecological compensation mechanism.

In accordance with SEPA's Guidance, the ecological compensation pilot projects will be mainly carried out in four areas:

First, ecological compensation for natural conservation zones. We will make clear and seek channels for investment into natural conservation zones and make the construction of these zones more standard. We will offer guides to residents living in and around the conservation zones to promote the change to their living styles and relieve the pressure of surrounding communities on conservation zones. We will conduct an overall estimation of the damage caused by projects in surrounding areas on the ecological environment or the ecological losses caused by the adjustment of function areas. A standard system of ecological compensation for natural conservation zones should be established on the basis of careful research.

Second, ecological compensation for important ecological function areas. We will promote the construction and improvement of the management and investment mechanism for crucial ecological function zones. The same job should be done to the appraisal and supervisory systems for the ecological environment. We will step up the efforts on environmental protection in both urban and rural areas within important ecological function zones. We will study normal assessments of ecological compensation in important ecological function zones and standard systems for ecological compensation in these areas.

Third, ecological compensation for mineral resources exploration. We will fully fulfill obligations concerning environmental protection and ecological rehabilitation in mineral mountains. Efforts will be made to develop a scientific standard system for ecological compensation for the exploration of mineral resources.

Fourth, ecological compensation for the environment in river basins. It is imperative to make sure that the water quality coming out of one administration region lives up to the requirement of another region and to work out the compensation standard according to the water quality coming out one region and into another region. We will build up a government management platform that will help the establishment of an ecological compensation mechanism in river basins so as to push forward the establishment of a special fund for the protection of water in cross-administration region river basins.