Gross ecosystem product: Concept, accounting framework and case study

Abstract

Ecosystem products and services are essentials for human survival and development. Gross ecosystem product (GEP) is defined as total values of ecosystem products and services for human welfare and sustainable development. GEP mainly refers to the total value of direct and indirect use values of ecosystem goods and services, including ecosystem provision value, ecological regulation services value and ecological culture services value. The purposes of GEP accounting are to analyze and evaluate the total of economic value supporting for human survival and well-being. There are three basic tasks in GEP accounting, including functional value accounting, figuring out prices and economic value accounting of the ecosystem products and services. Accounting of GEP can be used to reveal the ecosystem contributions to economic and social development and human welfare, analyze the ecological linkages between regions, and assess the effectiveness and benefit of ecosystem conservation. In this paper, GEP of Guizhou Province was accounted as a case study. The evaluation results showed that the GEP of Guizhou in 2010 was 200134.6 million Yuan, the GEP per capita was 57526 Yuan, which was 4.3 times that of the GDP and per capita GDP. The study suggested that, ecosystems played a great role in supporting economic and social development of Guizhou. GEP accounting provides an instrument to understand and assess efficiency and effectiveness of ecosystem protection management and restoration.