Compared with valuation on specific ecosystem services by traditionally independent empirical research, it is faster and cost saving using benefit transfer method. At present, the benefit transfer method has been widely used abroad, which could provide a significant reference for using this method into the ecosystem services valuation and related policies in China. Therefore, the article conducts a thorough study the definition, classification and selection principles of benefit transfer method, then the research progress of using this method to evaluate the ecosystem services, the accuracy challenges and the source and control of transfer error. Furthermore, three aspects of prospect are proposed here as follow: 1)the benefit transfer method should be used more for the domestic ecosystem services valuation and online valuation databases should be built, 2)how to figure out the international problem of transfer error reduction from theory and demonstration should be further studied, 3)the empirical research on ecosystem service valuation should be enhanced and the data on biophysical characteristics should be provided as much as possible in the research, so as to serve the ecological protection and related policies better. 

Corresponding author: Fawen Yu, yufaw@cass.org.cn