Research center of exploiting eco product value lands in Kaihua

The first research center exploring how to make full use of ecological product value in China was inaugurated in Kaihua, a county in Quzhou, Zhejiang province on Dec 28.

Ecological product value refers to the total value of finished products and services offered by a regional ecosystem to human beings, including material product value, regulating service value and cultural service value.

"The precondition of green water and mountains being mountains of gold and silver is that these natural resources are capable of bringing material benefits to local residents," noted experts at the inauguration ceremony.

In recent years, Kaihua has developed numerous ecological products from its abundant natural resources. The county was rewarded as a national ecotourism demonstration and a pilot national park and recognized as a natural oxygen bar in China.

In 2017, Kaihua's ecological product value reached 64.6 billion yuan ($9.4 billion), up by 32.1 percent from seven years ago, according to a report released by the Ecology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the three founders of the research center.

The two others are the Beijing Ecological Technology Research Institute and the Kaihua county government.

The Kaihua government will take good advantage of the research center to further promote its green development, said Lu Xiaguang, director of Kaihua county, at the ceremony.