Yunnan province has increased the compensation payments for local ecological zones. 

As of August in 2019, Yunnan has paid a total of 7.686 billion yuan to the functioning zones across the province, a record-high increase of 24.7% over the past 6 years.

Since the payment system for ecological functioning zones in 2009, all the 129 counties (cities and districts) have been covered, focusing on the plateau lakes, nature reserves and others. The regulations on quality assessments and awards were formulated.

Supported by the national financial fund, the province paid local ecological zones 4.483 billion yuan in 2016, 5.151 billion yuan in 2017 and 6.403 billion yuan in 2018. The annual growth rate averaged at 19.5%.

In the days to come, Yunnan will increase the payment and subsidies to the ecological zones, so as to help the province fulfill its due role to be a pacesetter in Chinese eco-conservation.

Source: Yunnan Daily and Xinhua; trans-editing by Wang Shixue