China started a nationwide pilot reform in January that requires polluters to repair the damaged natural environments or pay an adequate penalty that will be used to restore environmental quality. The goal is to establish an efficient and comprehensive damage compensation system by 2020. This new undertaking -- similar to U.S. natural resource damage (NDR) assessments -- creates a huge need for China to study other countries’ similar experiences and build special technical and legal capacities at all levels. That was what NRDC’s experts did in July in our New York office: our senior attorneys and scientists explained relevant U.S. laws, cases, and implementation experiences to a Chinese delegation of 18 technical and policy advisors from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and provincial bureaus, as well as staff from several Chinese NGOs. NRDC joined Vermont Law School and the Environmental Defense Fund in organizing this two-week long training course. The trainees acknowledged that the course deepened their knowledge and understanding of the legal system and techniques used in U.S. NDR assessments, as well as the roles played by different stakeholders, including environmental organizations and the public.