The System of Property Rights of Natural Resource Assets
The system of property rights of natural resource assets is an institutional structure regarding property rights, conduct of the main parties, exercise of relevant rights, and interest relationships. Ownership and right to use are both defined. Rivers, forests, mountains, grasslands, wild lands, low beaches, and other natural ecological spaces will all be registered to confirm ownership, so that a system can be established with clearly defined property rights, clear division of rights and responsibilities, strict protection, smooth transfer of rights, and effective regulation.
The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform, adopted at the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in November 2013, announced the decision to improve the system of property rights of natural resource assets. Improving this system was placed first among the eight tasks in the overall plan to reform the system for developing an eco-civilization, issued by the central authorities in September 2015.
In April 2019, the central authorities issued another document on reforming the above system of property rights, which defined major tasks regarding unified registration, paid use of natural resources, use control of natural space, land space planning, and protection, conservation and efficient utilization of natural resources. Reform of the systems of rural collective property rights and forest rights and other systems has accelerated, with applicable experience gained in terms of institutions and standards.
The system of property rights of natural resource assets is a basic component in the entire system of institutions for building an eco-civilization. Such rights represent a form of socialist public ownership and a socialist means of income distribution, and offer a new approach to socialist macro-regulation. The reform of this system is significant in improving the socialist market economy, maintaining social stability, fairness and justice, and building a beautiful China.
自然资源资产产权制度
自然资源资产产权制度，是对自然资源资产产权主体结构、主体行为、权利指向、利益关系等的制度安排，包括自然资源资产归谁所有（所有权）、谁可以使用（使用权）等。这一制度要求对水流、森林、山岭、草原、荒地、滩涂等自然生态空间进行统一确权登记，做到归属清晰、权责明确、保护严格、流转顺畅、监管有效。
2013年11月，中共十八届三中全会通过《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》，提出要健全自然资源资产产权制度。2015年9月，中共中央、国务院印发的《生态文明体制改革总体方案》，把健全自然资源资产产权制度列为生态文明体制改革八项任务之首。2019年4月，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发《关于统筹推进自然资源资产产权制度改革的指导意见》，明确提出自然资源资产产权制度的主要任务，在推进统一确权登记、完善有偿使用、健全自然生态空间用途管制和国土空间规划、加强自然资源保护修复与节约集约利用等方面进行了积极探索。其中，农村集体产权、林权等制度改革加快推进，形成了一系列制度方案、标准规范和试点经验。
自然资源资产产权制度是生态文明制度体系的基础性制度，是社会主义公有制的实现形式，丰富了社会主义收入分配的基本方式，完善了社会主义宏观调控的手段方法。自然资源资产产权制度改革，对完善社会主义市场经济体制、维护社会稳定和公平正义、建设美丽中国具有重要意义。