Exploratory practices and countermeasures for the value realization of water ecological products in Huzhou,Zhejiang

YAO Xing; XIA Peng; QIN Sushuang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1123.2025.23.010

Abstract：Anji County,Huzhou City,Zhejiang Province is the birthplace of the concept that"lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".In recent years,Huzhou has actively explored reforms and innovations in the mechanism for realizing the value of water ecological products.It has developed a comprehensive full-chain mechanism of"rights definition,accounting,assessment,trading,and reinvestment"and pioneered transformation path through multiple products,formats,and methods.Six relatively mature tradable water ecological products have been introduced,including the open sharing of water conservancy projects,water use rights for rural collective ponds and reservoirs,soil and water conservation ecological products,integrated tourism development along"happy rivers and lakes",ecological products from water conservancy scenic areas,and value enhancement of high-quality drinking water.These efforts have generated 86 successful cases,translating into 1.5 billion RMB and creating over 10,000 jobs,thus achieving a"four-in-one"synergy of economic,livelihood,social,and ecological benefits.A review of these cases reveals persistent challenges in advancing the reform,such as insufficient integrated planning,a lack of standards for rights clarification,accounting,and assessment,inadequate market competition,and weak long-term regulatory mechanisms.To address these,this study proposes countermeasures including reinforcing top-level design,accelerating institutional innovation,nurturing market development,and solidifying organizational safeguards.The study serves as a practical and replicable model to guide the nationwide advancement of water ecological product value realization.