So really GEP is trying to say, what is the contribution of nature to the economy.

所以 GEP 实际上是想说，自然对经济的贡献是什么。

Over that period, GEP rose by 127 percent, thanks to major restoration efforts and the increasing value of water.

在此期间， GEP 增长了 127%，这要归功于重大的恢复工作和水的价值增加。

Polasky says their work is just a first step, and he expects GEP to be refined over time.

Polasky 说他们的工作只是第一步，他希望 GEP 随着时间的推移得到完善。

GEP could also serve as the basis for programs that pay residents to be good stewards of natural resources that benefit themselves and others.

GEP 还可以作为向居民支付报酬的计划的基础，让他们成为造福于自己和他人的自然资源的好管家。

The researchers focused on Qinghai because it's one of several provinces where the Chinese government is experimenting with using GEP as part of its formal decision-making process.

研究人员将重点放在青海，因为它是中国政府正在试验将 GEP 作为其正式决策过程的一部分的几个省份之一。

For instance, GEP can help officials weigh the pros and cons of potential projects, like dams. Or it can be used to show whether local leaders are taking care of the environment, and not just expanding the economy.

例如，GEP 可以帮助官员权衡水坝等潜在项目的利弊。或者它可以用来表明地方领导人是否正在关注环境， 而不仅仅是发展经济。