Study on National Resource Asset Appraisal and Management System for the NKEFZ

Client: Asian Development Bank

Duration: 2017-2018

Location: Beijing and Shaanxi Province, PRC

Contract Value: USD 371,959

Catalogue: Environment

Project Description

The policy and advisory technical assistance (PATA) aimed to assist the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) in improving the accessibility and reliability of environmental information, and provided central and local governments with the tools and approaches necessary to gauge the quantity and quality of the national key ecological function zones' (NKEFZ) natural resource assets in a consistent and standardized framework. It also enhanced MEE's national and local capacity to monitor the NKEFZs' natural resource assets and ecosystem services,; design and implement management interventions that ensure sustained provision of ecosystem services in the NKEFZs; and evaluate the performance of institutions and officials responsible for the NKEFZs' environmental management. NAREE assisted MEE to (i) review gaps; (ii) consolidate ongoing efforts, including those with other PRC agencies; and (iii) develop an environmental information system by supporting the development of a national-level methodology and guidelines that are consistent with international best practice for natural resource asset appraisal, accounting, monitoring, and management.

Services Provided by NAREE

Development of framework and methodology for natural resource asset appraisal in the NKEFZs – NAREE reviewed the existing information and data gaps on natural resources in the NKEFZs, including international practices and work by other PRC agencies; developed a draft list of accounts and prepared draft technical guidelines to include targeted assets, assessment tools, indicators, valuation, and data analysis; technical workshops and expert group meetings were conducted to discuss and refine the methodology.

Demonstration of approach to compiling natural resource accounts through completion of the Qinba Biodiversity Ecological Function Zone (QBEFZ) pilot study – NAREE conducted workshops with sector agencies and local and provincial counterparts in the QBEFZ to discuss the pilot study methodology and approach; conducted the natural resource asset appraisal in the QBEFZ in collaboration with MEP, and local and provincial counterparts; prepared detailed technical reports on the results and implementation challenges; national and local workshops to discuss the pilot study findings were organized.

Preparation of policy recommendations for applying natural resource asset appraisal methodology and results for the management of NKEFZs – NAREE assessed and provided recommendations on institutional, administrative, and resourcing requirements at provincial and national levels for natural resource appraisal and monitoring; assessed and provided recommendations on how the natural resource asset appraisal framework can be used to improve design and effectiveness of financing mechanisms (i.e. eco-compensation) in key NKEFZs, including market-based mechanisms, transfer payments, ecological damage penalties; developed recommendations for using the proposed natural resource asset appraisal framework and its results for end-of-office auditing of natural resources management officials.