Dr Zhiyun Ouyang is the professor in Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the president of the Ecological Society of China, and the international member of the National Academy of Sciences. His research interests include ecosystem assessment, ecosystem services, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. In particular, he is known for his contributions to China national ecosystem survey and assessment, national park network planning, mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy-making and urban management through establishing ecological function conservation areas (EFCAs) paradigm, national framework of ecological redline planning, pioneering study on Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) concept and accounting methodology, and designing financial mechanisms based on natural capital and ecosystem services.