Novel　and　selective　strategies　for　platform　chemical　production　from　renewable　biomass　are　highly　attractive　in　respect　to　value-added　utilization　of　sustainable　resources.　In　this　study,　a　series　of　low-cost,　commercially　available,　transition　metal　carbonates　(Zr,　Ni,　Mg,　Zn,　and　Pb)　were　investigated　for　catalytic　transfer　hydrogenation　of　levulinate　esters　to　γ-valerolactone　(GVL)　via　the　cascade　process　of　Meerwein-Ponndorf　-　Verley　(MPV)　reduction　and　lactonization　reaction.　Among　the　selected　catalysts,　basic　zirconium　carbonate　is　the　most　active,　with　the　highest　turnover　frequency　(TOF)　of　3.1　h-1　and　a　surface　reaction　rate　of　0.21　mol　m-2　h-1.　At　453　K,　3.0　h,　and　1.0　MPa　N2,　100%　ethyl　levulinate　conversion,　96.3%　GVL　yield,　and　91.9%　hydrogen　donor　utilization　are　observed　due　to　the　cooperative　effect　between　acid　(Mn+)　and　base　(-OH)　sites.　Furthermore,　this　catalyst　shows　high　recyclability　under　the　optimized　conditions,　where　a　satisfactory　catalytic　activity　is　shown　even　after　six　consecutive　runs.　©　2018　American　Chemical　Society.