Natural resource asset accounting represents an important frontier in resource science, facilitating a transition from conventional assessments of resource quantity toward a comprehensive understanding of resource values. It also provides a critical scientific foundation for refined natural resource governance and sustainable resource utilization. This experts forum examines key scientific challenges and emerging frontiers in natural resource asset accounting, with a focus on several aspects: advancing the recognition of asset characteristics and accounting approaches for representative resources, including water resources, cultivated land, and mining ecosystems, while integrating resource, ecosystem, and asset values through the ecosystem-based “Five Reservoirs” framework; exploring the application of engineering ecological computation, artificial intelligence, and risk early warning technologies in the quantification and dynamic assessment of natural resource assets; strengthening foundational capacities through unified standards, continuous monitoring, integrated data management, and integrated observation infrastructures; and promoting interdepartmental coordination, interdisciplinary integration, talent development, and international collaboration. Through coordinated advances in theoretical innovation, technological breakthroughs, and management practices, this forum aims to foster a systematic, standardized, dynamic, accurate, and open framework for natural resource asset accounting, providing scientific support for precise territorial spatial governance and ecological civilization advancement.

Improving the national management system for natural resource assets and strengthening the management of natural resource assets are inherent requirements for ecological civilization construction. Clarifying the concept, characteristics, and classification of natural resource assets provides important scientific value and practical significance for the construction and development of the comprehensive management system for natural resource assets and the discipline of resource science in the new era. Addressing the current problems of unclear definition, numerous classification systems, and overlapping boundaries of natural resource assets, this study systematically reviews the conceptual origins of natural resource assets. Based on an analysis of their logical relationships with concepts such as natural resources, natural capital, and ecological assets, this study clarifies the conceptual connotation of natural resource assets. Meanwhile, it summarizes the basic characteristics and extensional attributes of natural resource assets, reviews the research progress on natural resource classification from the perspectives of theory, law, and management, and points out the problems of insufficient systematicity in the current classification systems and inadequate connection among multidimensional classifications. On this basis, this study proposes classification principles adapted to the comprehensive management of natural resource assets in the new era, forming a classification approach that integrates theory, law, and management, and ultimately constructing a hierarchical classification system covering 8 primary categories, 31 secondary categories, and 162 tertiary categories. The natural resource assets classification system, constructed through conceptual analysis, characteristic induction, problem identification, and definition of principles and procedures, is scientific, rational, and reliable. It provides theoretical support for enhancing the management efficiency of natural resource assets and advancing the discipline of resource science.

[Objective] China is characterized by diverse natural resource types and complex spatial combinations, resulting in substantial regional differences in the basis for ecological product supply and the conditions for value realization. However, existing studies have primarily focused on local cases or single resource types, and systematic analysis revealing the relationship between the spatial differentiation of natural resource endowments and ecological product value realization models at the national scale remains lacking. This study aims to reveal the constraining mechanism of natural resource endowments on ecological product supply structures and value realization, construct a zoning- and category-based analytical framework, and provide theoretical and methodological support for advancing ecological product value realization through region-specific policies. [Methods] Multi-source data on natural resources and ecosystem functions were integrated to construct an indicator system for comprehensive natural resource regionalization. Spatial overlay analysis and clustering analysis were employed to perform comprehensive natural resource regionalization. Combined with typical cases, the dominant functions of different resource-concentrated regions and their corresponding value realization models were summarized. [Results] (1) Natural resource endowments in China exhibited a pronounced pattern of spatial differentiation, which fundamentally determined regional differences in ecological product supply types and value transformation pathways, forming a pattern of spatial differentiation and model adaptation in which “resource endowments determine ecological functions and ecological functions guide value realization models.” (2) Following the logic of “resource identification-asset accounting-value transformation,” four dominant value realization models were identified: the resource conservation and value enhancement model, the green industry integration model, the ecological restoration benefit enhancement model, and the ecological culture empowerment model. (3) A systematic framework composed of “the resource endowment functional foundation layer, the institutional-market-technology driving layer, and the sustainable well-being objective layer” was constructed. The framework revealed the multi-level synergistic mechanisms through which ecological products were transformed from potential functions into realized values. [Conclusion] Ecological product value realization should be grounded in differences in natural resource endowments and avoid the replication of models detached from local resource conditions. Region-specific and locally adapted pathways can be formed by accurately identifying functional positioning through natural resource regionalization, differentiated value accounting, integrated resource supply, and institutional-market coordination, thereby facilitating the transformation of ecological advantages into value under the “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” philosophy.

[Objective] Natural resource asset accounting is a fundamental requirement for improving the property rights system of natural resource assets and the institutional system for natural resource asset management. It is of great significance for establishing a sound basic institutional framework for ecological civilization development in China. [Methods] Drawing on relevant literature and policy documents, this study clarified the connotation of natural resource asset accounting and identified the accounting requirements of natural resource asset management in China in the new era. On this basis, combined with previous practices, an accounting framework was designed, and implementation pathways and application scenarios were proposed to address the bottlenecks during the accounting process. [Results] Natural resource asset accounting had the dual characteristics of financial accounting and statistical accounting. It covered both the economic benefits of natural resource assets themselves and the social and ecological benefits generated from natural resources. Natural resource asset accounting should be aligned with the System of National Accounts and meet the requirements of natural resource asset management. On this basis, the accounting objectives, principles, scope, and objects were established, and spatial patches formed by integrating survey and monitoring data with rights confirmation and registration data were defined as the basic accounting units of natural resource asset accounting. The accounting framework combined basic accounting (financial accounting and statistical accounting) with extended accounting (natural capital and natural resource asset balance sheets). It covered the accounting of physical quantities and monetary values, as well as stocks and flows of natural resource assets. Finally, implementation pathways were proposed for key links, including source data acquisition, model optimization, engineering production, and the development of accounting institutions and professional teams. Based on the application scenarios specified in relevant policies, it was indicated that accounting results could be explored for application in allocation planning, ecological restoration, risk early warning, and investment planning. [Conclusion] The findings can provide theoretical support and a technical paradigm for natural resource asset accounting at the current stage. They also provide important practical guidance for promoting refined and science-based management of natural resource assets and achieving coordinated development between efficient natural resource asset utilization and ecological protection.

Valuation of natural resource assets provides methodological support for refined natural resource management and the realization of ecological product value. Grounded in the management needs of natural resource assets, this study elucidated the value connotation from the perspectives of value sources and value composition. On this basis, valuation scope was delineated, valuation methods were systematically reviewed, and a valuation workflow was constructed. Regarding valuation scope, a tripartite framework of economic, ecological, and social values was adopted to delineate eight categories of natural resource assets—land, mineral resources, marine resources, forests, grasslands, wetlands, water resources, and protected areas. The framework also distinguishes between stock and flow perspectives, thereby providing a classification basis for the formation of integrated value. In terms of valuation methods, four interconnected components—valuation principles, valuation methods, method selection, and dimensional harmonization, and boundary verification—were examined to review the origins, accounting approaches, applicable conditions, and limitations of various valuation methods. Starting from asset classification and value identification, valuation methods were selected by comprehensively considering temporal scale, data availability, and management purpose. These components were subsequently organized into an executable valuation process tailored to different management needs. This study indicated that current valuation practices faced four major challenges: value classification and methodological systems to be improved for natural resource assets; insufficient research on localized and dynamic valuation parameters; limited capacity for integrated assessment of multiple services in complex ecosystems; and weak integration of valuation results into natural resource assets management. Future research should focus on developing classified value indicator systems and valuation method systems, improving operational rules for flow capitalization and boundary review, updating key ecosystem service parameters such as water conservation, and establishing dynamic valuation databases oriented toward asset units. These efforts will provide methodological support for natural resource asset inventories, balance-sheet compilation, departure audits, and the realization of ecological product value.

[Objective] This study aims to scientifically evaluate the value realization rate of ecological products, and provide practical guidance for evaluating the effectiveness of “Two Mountains” transformation and clarifying the driving mechanisms by improving, applying, and analyzing the value realization rate of ecological products. [Methods] Based on panel data from 296 prefecture-level and above cities from 2012 to 2023, this study employed the residual value method, expenditure method, and production function method to separately calculate the market values of material supply, regulating services, and cultural services of ecological products in the factor market, government procurement market, and product market. The equivalent factor method was used to calculate the non-market values of ecological products. On this basis, the value realization rate of ecological products was calculated, and the driving factors of the value realization rate on the supply and demand sides were identified. [Results] (1) The value realization rate of ecological products increased with fluctuations, characterized by a relatively low realization rate of regulating value, steady growth in the realization rate of supply value, and a pattern of “scattered distribution of high-value points and clustered distribution of low-value areas” in the realization rate of cultural value. (2) The quality of ecological product supply, total demand, demand balance, and transportation accessibility significantly promoted ecological value realization, while regional terrain undulation had heterogeneous effects on different types of value realization. [Conclusion] During the study period, the full-sample mean value realization rate of ecological products was relatively low, with significant regional disparities and large fluctuations over time. The driving factors on both the supply and demand sides of ecological products should be considered, and value realization models suitable for local resource endowments should be selected.

Natural capital accounting serves as a vital technical tool for assessing sustainable development. While its theoretical and methodological frameworks have undergone continuous refinement in recent years, shortcomings still exist in areas such as the interpretation of methodological characteristics and the application of accounting systems. This paper employs bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace software to systematically review Chinese and English literature published between 1990 and 2024. It examines publication trends and research hotspots to summarize the evolution, strengths, limitations, and applicability of natural capital accounting methods, and proposes future development directions. The findings indicate that: (1) given the differences in research perspectives and historical contexts between domestic and international studies, relevant research differs in framework construction and methodological application. International studies emphasize the systematic integrity of accounting frameworks, focusing on issues such as sustainable development, national resource and economic management, and green finance. Domestic scholars focus on refining accounting frameworks and constructing paradigms, concentrating on the realization of ecological product values and the management of natural resource assets. (2) Natural capital accounting serves as a key tool for promoting the coordinated development of ecology and economy, as well as natural resource asset management, encompassing physical and value accounting. Accounting methods are evolving toward dynamic monitoring, intelligent technology, and framework integration, with cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning and data fusion set to lead the transformation of accounting paradigms. (3) Innovation in natural capital accounting methods should be promoted in terms of system optimization and data acquisition. Approaches for improving accounting models should be expanded from the perspectives of enhancing the quality of monitoring data and establishing technical guidance and standards, and artificial intelligence and big data can be leveraged to empower natural resource monitoring and forecasting systems. Moving forward, against the background of ecological civilization development, the connotation of the natural capital accounting system should be continuously expanded and deepened, the accounting methodological framework should be innovated and improved, and the application of natural capital accounting in natural resource asset allocation, damage compensation, and preservation and appreciation of resource assets should be promoted.

Both comprehensive scientific investigation and in-situ station observation are important fieldwork approaches with the primary task of obtaining basic scientific and technological resource data. However, the synergy between the two is often insufficient in practice, affecting the overall effectiveness of field scientific investigation. On the basis of reviewing the evolution of comprehensive scientific investigation and in-situ station observation, as well as their mutually reinforcing relationship, this paper compares the similarities and differences between the two approaches in terms of research objectives, implementation methods, and outputs, and further analyzes the internal logic and synergistic advantages of their complementary and integrated development. Drawing on the practice of scientific investigation in recent years, this study points out that the integration of comprehensive scientific investigation and in-situ station observation can significantly promote technological progress, the unification of standards and norms, and the expansion of regional field research. This study then proposes pathways for promoting their deep integration from five aspects: establishing institutional collaboration mechanisms, improving the rationality of station layout, establishing data-sharing collaboration mechanisms, strengthening regional and international cooperation, and promoting talent exchange. This study is expected to provide a scientific reference for the synergistic development and efficiency improvement of fieldwork in comprehensive scientific investigation and in-situ station observation.

[Objective] Natural resource asset portfolio supply is an important way to achieve high-level protection and efficient allocation of natural resource assets. Identifying and explaining the patterns and operational logic of natural resource asset portfolio supply offers guidance for promoting efficient allocation of natural resource assets according to local conditions and accelerating the realization of their value. [Methods] Archetype analysis was adopted in this study. Based on the diagnostic-design-outcome (DDO) theoretical analytical framework, four natural resource asset portfolio supply patterns were extracted from 30 typical cases in the eastern, central, and western regions of China, and their key element combinations were identified and compared. Questionnaire survey data and objective indicators were also used to quantitatively evaluate the implementation benefits of the cases. [Results] (1) Natural resource asset portfolio supply patterns resulted from the continuous interaction and mutual shaping between external environmental conditions and internal institutional design, and were summarized as four patterns: multi-resource complementarity based on government-enterprise cooperation, cross-ownership integration guided by village collectives, government-led ecological responsibility binding, and ecological equity financing supported by financial institutions. (2) Different patterns were differentiated by geographical endowment, policy environment, and goal orientation. The multi-resource complementarity pattern was suitable for areas with diverse resource types but uneven development values and realized overall resource appreciation through the combination of resources with different development values and functional complementarity. The cross-ownership integration pattern was suitable for areas with integrated urban-rural markets and promoted rural revitalization by breaking down ownership barriers. The ecological responsibility binding pattern was suitable for ecologically damaged areas and bundled restoration responsibilities with development rights and interests through administrative force to achieve ecological-industrial synergy. The ecological equity financing pattern was suitable for areas with abundant ecological resources but difficulties in value conversion and promoted resource capitalization and financing monetization through value assessment and equity pledge. (3) Natural resource asset portfolio supply was summarized as an implementation path consisting of resource investigation, planning coordination, ownership preparation, value evaluation, portfolio supply, operation supervision, and revenue distribution. Different patterns focused on resource screening, ownership integration, value accounting, and other links. [Conclusion] Natural resource asset portfolio supply remains at an exploratory stage. Clarifying the patterns of natural resource asset portfolio supply and the operational logic of “context-institution-result” behind them is of certain significance for refining and summarizing governance patterns that can be promoted and replicated across regions and for deepening the reform of natural resource asset management.

[Objective] Advancing research on value accounting of marine natural resource assets is important for preserving and increasing the value of marine resources and maintaining marine ecological security. The unique characteristics of the ocean, including its vastness, mobility, and connectivity, make the identification, measurement, and accounting of marine natural resource asset values complex and distinctive. Consequently, marine natural resource asset accounting currently faces challenges including inconsistent accounting scopes, ambiguous value connotations, and diverse accounting methods, making it urgent to develop a unified method for value accounting of marine natural resource assets. [Methods] This study focused on four key issues, including connotation definition, value composition analysis, accounting method construction, and account system compilation, to investigate value accounting methods for marine natural resource assets. A systematic value accounting framework was established accordingly, and an empirical study was further conducted using marine natural resource assets in Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, as the research object. [Results] (1) Marine natural resource assets included marine resource-based assets and marine ecosystem-based assets. (2) Except for the prices of some assets with relatively active trading markets, which could be estimated using the direct market method, indirect market methods or cost methods were generally used for asset price estimation. The net present value (NPV) method was commonly used for value accounting of marine natural resource assets. (3) The value of marine natural resource assets in Yancheng City exhibited an upward trend during the accounting period. The total asset value at the end of the period increased by approximately 118 billion CNY compared with that at the beginning, representing a 44% rise. The value of resource-based assets constituted the main component. [Conclusion] Classifying marine natural resource assets into resource-based assets and ecosystem-based assets can comprehensively reflect their composition and value realization. Based on the technical framework of “physical accounting, price estimation, and value accounting” within a classified accounting system, this approach can scientifically and effectively calculate the value of marine natural resource assets, reflect their quantities, distributions, and values, and clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of asset management. This provides a scientific and effective technical pathway and research approach for value accounting of marine natural resource assets, and can serve as a reference for natural capital accounting and balance sheet preparation.

[Objective] Scientifically defining the connotation of marine ranching ecological products and accurately accounting for their natural-artificial composite value is a key foundation for deepening the practice of the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” in the marine domain. [Methods] Drawing on the “human-nature co-production” perspective, this study delineated the essential attributes and conceptual boundaries of marine ranching ecological products and constructed a multi-dimensional classification system. It further deconstructed the formation mechanism of natural-artificial composite value, established a gross ecosystem product (GEP) accounting framework that was synergistic with gross domestic product (GDP), and developed differentiated accounting approaches tailored to product attributes. [Results] (1) Marine ranching ecological products were composite outputs arising from the synergistic interaction between natural processes and artificial intervention, and were characterized by four essential attributes: ecological productivity, continuous flow, direct benefit, and economic scarcity. These attributes established clear boundaries distinguishing them from conventional products and purely natural services. (2) Their final market value could be deconstructed into three components: natural endowment value, ecological restoration value, and market transformation value. The accounting boundary of GEP should be confined to the intrinsic ecological value constituted by the former two components. Based on differences in the market attributes of ecological products, an accounting system integrating physical and monetary metrics was developed. [Conclusion] Marine ranching ecological products are rooted in the synergy between humans and nature, and their ecological value lies in the composite contribution of natural ecological processes and ecological restoration labor. The clarified synergistic boundary between GEP and GDP, along with the constructed differentiated accounting methods, provides a technical basis for accurately quantifying the composite ecological contribution of marine ranching, thereby laying a quantitative foundation for determining ecological compensation standards and compiling natural resource asset balance sheets.

[Objective] Scientific assessment of water resources value is an important prerequisite for realizing this value, stimulating the vitality of water markets, and achieving the rational allocation of water resources. [Methods] A fuzzy ranking learning-based water resources value assessment model was constructed to measure the water resources value of 43 cities in the Yellow River Basin from 2011 to 2024. The model performance was evaluated through comparative experiments, ablation experiments, generalization ability tests, and perturbation robustness tests. Subsequently, the model was applied to calculate benchmark prices for the paid use of water resources by industrial enterprises. [Results] (1) The fuzzy ranking learning-based water resources value assessment model showed good robustness and structural consistency in cross-year and cross-city assessments. Fuzzy mapping and multiple regularization constraints were the key sources of performance improvement. (2) The water resources value in the Yellow River Basin was generally concentrated within the range of 2.71-3.33 and exhibited stage-specific fluctuations. Spatially, the overall pattern was “higher in the west and lower in the east” and “higher in the north and lower in the south,” with east-west differentiation being stronger than north-south differentiation. The clustering range and distribution center of high-value cities exhibited stage-specific adjustments, indicating that the driving mechanism shifted from being dominated by natural endowments to being jointly influenced by socioeconomic activity intensity and water supply-demand pressure. (3) The benchmark prices for industrial water use constructed on this basis ranged from 0.418 to 5.265 yuan/m³, showing an overall distribution trend of decreasing from the upper reaches to the lower reaches. [Conclusion] The fuzzy ranking learning-based water resources value assessment model can effectively identify the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of water resources value and serves as an important tool for supporting basin-scale water resources value accounting and differentiated management. Benchmark prices for the paid use of water resources should be improved by region and category according to urban water resources value levels and the affordability of water users, thereby promoting the transformation of water resources from basic natural endowments into economic assets and capital elements.

[Objective] Under the entrusted agency mechanism for the ownership of state-owned natural resource assets, local governments assume dual responsibilities as owner agents and public regulators. Governance evaluation must therefore address both the comparison of asset allocation performance and the judgment of whether public baseline responsibilities have been fulfilled. Existing composite scoring methods aggregate evaluation matters of different natures into a single score, making baseline risks and procedural deficiencies easily obscured by high performance scores. This study aims to clarify the differentiated conclusion effects assigned to evaluation matters by the dual logic and to develop a corresponding rule-based mechanism for governance evaluation. [Methods] Using normative analysis and rule-based deduction methods, this study adopted “public value realization under boundary constraints” as the normative criterion. It constructed a hierarchical aggregation rule consisting of qualification review, boundary judgment, and performance evaluation, and demonstrated indicator reorganization and rule application using Beijing’s annual evaluation indicator system as an example. [Results] (1) The owner-agent logic and public regulatory logic assigned three types of conclusion effects to evaluation matters: eligibility, baseline constraint, and comparability. Together with observational matters that did not yet meet the conditions for evaluation effects, the indicators were classified into four types: procedural threshold indicators, constraint indicators, performance indicators, and exploratory indicators. (2) Under the hierarchical aggregation rule, procedural threshold indicators determined eligibility for evaluation. Constraint indicators set upper limits on grades in a non-compensatory manner, performance indicators generated comparative results within the permitted range, and exploratory indicators were listed separately for observation. (3) The Beijing case showed that existing indicators organized by resource type could be reorganized according to their evaluation effects, and that evaluation outputs could be expanded from a single grade to structured results integrating grade determination, risk identification, and cause diagnosis. [Conclusion] Governance evaluation of state-owned natural resource assets should shift from composite scoring to hierarchical rules based on evaluation effects. This approach preserves the rigidity of public baselines while retaining performance discrimination ability, thereby providing methodological support for the institutional coordination between evaluation of owner-agent responsibilities and evaluation of public regulatory responsibilities.

[Objective] Promoting the realization of diversified and comprehensive value of natural resource assets is an important issue in implementing the concept of ecological civilization. Existing studies on digital technology empowerment for the value realization of natural resource assets mainly focus on theoretical analysis and case studies, and have not yet systematically explained the underlying mechanisms and boundaries of digital technology empowerment from the perspective of property rights. [Methods] Based on property rights theory and digital economy theory, this study constructed an analytical framework for the value realization of natural resource assets. Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, one of the first pilot sites for the national ecological product value realization mechanism, was selected as an in-depth case study, and typical cases covering different technological scenarios and regions were selected for multi-case validation to explore the internal logic and boundaries of digital technology empowerment. [Results] (1) The root causes of obstacles to the value realization of natural resource assets lay in the high cost of property rights definition and imperfect transaction systems. Digital technology, as a tool for reducing transaction costs and assisting in clarifying property rights, played an important role. (2) Digital technology, through the three mechanisms of information integration, ownership verification, and supply-demand matching, alleviated difficulties such as value measurement, inefficient circulation, and weak value appreciation, but its effectiveness highly depended on prerequisite conditions such as supporting institutions, market maturity, and the sustainability of capital investment. (3) Multi-case validation showed that the effects of digital empowerment exhibited significant regional differences and dependence on technological scenarios. [Conclusion] Digital technology serves as a vital instrument for diversified value realization of natural resource assets, yet its application must be advanced in coordination with institutional innovation and market mechanisms. Promoting the diversified value realization of natural resource assets requires following a dual-layer coordinated pathway of technological tools and institutional support.

[Objective] As an institutional innovation in the national governance system, exploring the impact of natural resource asset departure audit on land resource allocation efficiency and its mechanism is of great significance for continuously advancing such audits and improving the land supply system. [Methods] Based on panel data from 274 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2010 to 2022, this study employed a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model and a mediation effect model to investigate the mechanism through which the natural resource asset departure audit affects land resource allocation efficiency, focusing on four dimensions: land supply methods, structure, price, and sources. [Results] (1) The baseline regression results showed that the departure audit system significantly enhanced land resource allocation efficiency, and the policy effect was persistent. (2) Mechanism analysis revealed that the departure audit system improved urban land allocation efficiency by regulating local governments’ land supply behavior. Specifically, departure audit promoted land resource allocation efficiency by promoting market-oriented land supply methods, optimizing the supply structure, correcting supply price distortions, and shifting land supply toward existing stock. (3) Heterogeneity analysis showed that the efficiency-enhancing effect of the departure audit system was more pronounced in western regions, resource-based cities, and areas with lower levels of marketization. [Conclusion] The natural resource asset departure audit is an important institutional safeguard for regulating local governments’ land supply behavior and improving land resource allocation efficiency. It is necessary to continuously advance the natural resource asset departure audit and regularly conduct audit assessments of local governments’ land supply behavior, so as to achieve efficient resource utilization and high-quality economic development.

Scientific value accounting of ecological products provides an important foundation for improving the natural resource asset management system and promoting the realization of ecological product value. As composite natural resource units centered on water resources and water ecosystems, water conservancy scenic areas have diverse types of ecological products and complex value compositions. Although existing accounting methods can partly reflect the direct economic value of ecological products, they are insufficient to systematically reveal their asset attributes and input costs. Based on this, the applicability and limitations of the system of environmental-economic accounting—ecosystem accounting (SEEA-EA) framework were analyzed, and the balancing logic of the natural resource balance sheet was incorporated to extend the SEEA-EA framework. On this basis, an “assets-liabilities-net value” accounting structure for ecological product value in water conservancy scenic areas was constructed, and an ecological product accounting framework and balance sheet were established accordingly. Taking the Jinniu Lake Water Conservancy Scenic Area in Nanjing as a case study and using 2023 and 2024 as the accounting periods, this study conducted an empirical analysis. The results showed that the ecological product value accounting system for water conservancy scenic areas based on the improved natural resource balance sheet systematically revealed the value composition of regional ecological products. Its “assets-liabilities-net value” structure effectively coupled the economic benefits of natural capital with the sustainability requirements of ecosystems and effectively addressed the shortcomings of traditional accounting methods. The research findings can provide methodological support and a quantitative basis for natural resource asset accounting, management decision-making in water conservancy scenic areas, and ecological product value realization.

[Objective] This study addresses the challenge of scaling down ecological product value realization from policy to practice, using Sichuan Province as a case. [Methods] Based on a dual-dimensional framework of ecological constraint and economic support with multi-source data (2020-2024), the CRITIC-TOPSIS and obstacle degree models were applied to evaluate suitability and diagnose constraints at township scale across five regions. [Results] Significant spatial divergence yields four types: High-Ecology Low-Economy in Northwest Sichuan and Panxi; Low-Ecology High-Economy in the Chengdu Plain and Southern Sichuan; High-Ecology High-Economy scattered in western Chengdu Plain and the Anning River Valley; and Low-Ecology Low-Economy in central Sichuan. Urban development constraints are pronounced in the Chengdu Plain, Northeast, and Southern Sichuan, with location and market disadvantages in Southern and Northeast Sichuan. Ecological constraints manifest as restoration pressure in Northwest Sichuan and geological risks in Panxi, while resource transformation shortcomings are widespread though red cultural tourism in Northeast Sichuan and natural-cultural resources in Southern Sichuan show potential. [Conclusion] For southwestern provinces, identifying regional core difficulties and implementing categorized pathways is essential to facilitate the transition from pilot exploration to precision policy implementation.

[Objective] Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent global resource constraints and in alignment with the advancement of China’s sustainable development strategy and ecological protection deployment of the 15th Five-Year Plan, this study coordinates ecosystem protection and restoration with the preservation and appreciation of natural capital. It is imperative to develop a quantitative accounting framework oriented towards regional natural capital governance. [Methods] This study took the Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality, a core area of the ecological barrier in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, as the study area. Based on the theoretical framework of natural capital accounting involving stock, flow, and value, this study employed methods such as statistical analysis, ecological model simulation, and questionnaire survey to systematically calculate the physical quantities and values of key natural capital, including land, mineral resources, forests, and water resources, in 2024, and to analyze the causes of natural capital value formation. [Results] (1) The natural capital of Wanzhou District showed great potential, with a total value of 119.312 billion yuan, including natural resource asset value of 66.684 billion yuan (55.89%) and ecological value of 52.628 billion yuan (44.11%). The contributions of different natural capital types to total value differed significantly. On the asset side, land was dominant (45.26%), followed by mineral resources (7.80%) and forest land (2.61%). On the ecosystem service side, regulating services (25.75%) and provisioning services (15.46%) were the core contributors. (2) In terms of spatial differentiation, high-value urban construction land was concentrated along the Yangtze River. Agricultural land had relatively low value and was mainly distributed in transitional zones among forests, mountains, and urban areas, where its additional provisioning services provided an important supplement. Large areas of forest land were concentrated in high-altitude mountainous areas, with their value mainly derived from regulating services, and mineral value was also concentrated there. (3) The natural capital stock was abundant and its flow was substantial, but the stock-to-flow conversion efficiency was only 78.92%, indicating that approximately 21% of the assets had not been effectively converted into ecological service flows. Although nonmarket values had been quantified through accounting, they had not yet been transformed into direct economic benefits through market transactions, green premiums, or other channels. [Conclusion] Value quantification based on the natural capital governance orientation can accurately identify structural shortcomings in regional ecological assets (e.g., weak contributions from grassland and other ecological land types) and gaps in conversion efficiency (with about 21% potential for improvement). This study can provide quantitative support and a scientific basis for decision-making regarding ecological restoration and governance, long-term natural capital management, and differentiated spatial control in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

[Objective] Accounting for the value of ecological products (VEP) for specific regional units is a key foundation for the market-oriented allocation of ecological resources. However, the existing VEP accounting framework remains at an exploratory stage, and empirical studies in representative regions are urgently needed. [Methods] The dike-pond system of Jinsha Island in Foshan City, an agricultural heritage site in the Pearl River Delta, was selected as the research object. A VEP accounting framework applicable to specific regional units was developed, and accounting for gross ecological products (GEP) and VEP was conducted. The VEP during the accounting periods of 2019 and 2023 were systematically evaluated, and value changes and the influence pathways of comprehensive land consolidation were analyzed. [Results] (1) From 2019 to 2023, the GEP of the Jinsha Island dike-pond system increased from 0.871 billion CNY to 1.031 billion CNY, while the five-year VEP rose from 0.807 billion CNY to 1.618 billion CNY. The growth rate of VEP (100.36%) was much higher than that of GEP (18.45%), indicating a significant leveraging effect of comprehensive land consolidation projects on the market-oriented VEP. (2) In terms of spatial distribution, the high-value areas of GEP shifted from scattered distribution to concentrated contiguous distribution, while the medium- and high-value areas of VEP changed from sporadic distribution to widespread distribution, suggesting that land consolidation reshaped the spatial pattern of VEP. (3) Comprehensive land consolidation influenced VEP through three pathways: spatial integration and transformation generated scale effects that enhanced material provisioning value; ecological restoration optimized the natural ecological foundation and improved production efficiency; and landscape beautification drove explosive growth in cultural service value. [Conclusion] Comprehensive land consolidation is a key factor driving the optimization of VEP. It is recommended that future land consolidation planning prioritize projects for enhancing cultural service functions, promote the branding of characteristic products, and explore natural resource asset portfolio supply models based on VEP accounting. This study provides a theoretical basis for market-oriented mechanisms for the realization of VEP and offers practical references for sustainable management of ecological resources in similar regions.