Abstract: Payment for Inter-basin Water Transfer Ecosystem Services (PIBWTES) is an approach by researchers to solve the problems of environmental pollution and benefit imbalance of inter-basin water transfer project from market perspective. In the present paper we summarized the researches in terms of concept, purpose, standards, implementation mechanisms, and security system, and made a review on the research achievements. Moreover we compared the research progresses in China and abroad, and found that a preliminary theoretical system inclusive of the concept and security of PIBWTES has been formed in foreign countries although it has attracted attention only in recent years. However in China, research in this regard is still in its initial stage. Endeavors should be made in future research in the following aspects: define PIBWTES from the perspective of ecosystem characteristics and PES market features; determine the purpose in consideration of the relationship between PES and poverty alleviation; make a standard based on the spatio-temporal characteristics of market and ecological services; set PES fund for implementation; specific legislating from regional and property rights.

Key words: payment for ecosystem services, inter-basin water transfer, environmental management, game theory, policy security