The Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) is the total value of final products and services provided by the ecosystem for human well-being and economic society, which is also an effective supplement to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since the United Nations launched the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in 2001, several countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have conducted natural ecosystem assessment earlier. In recent years, China has explored GEP accounting based on the theoretical framework of the System of Environmental and Economic Accounting proposed by the United Nations, and has conducted GEP accounting and application demonstration in multiple places such as Shenzhen and Lishui. China National Institute of Standardization and Zhejiang Province have respectively formulated national and local standards for GEP accounting. However, the application of GEP cross regional accounting is still in the early stage. The demonstration zone of green and integrated ecological development of the Yangtze River Delta promotes the research on the mechanism of realizing the value of ecological products and GEP accounting, which can promote the system and mechanism innovation of the demonstration zone, and improve the scientific nature and accuracy of the government's decision-making.
The importance of promoting the application of the gross ecosystem product accounting in the demonstration zone mainly lies in the following aspects.
1. Explore the cross-regional practice and promote institutional innovation in the demonstration zone.
2. Improve the accounting system and enhance the evaluating ability for green development.
3. Provide data support and improve the scientific nature and accuracy of decision-making.
