Analyzing the Value Conversion Efficiency of Forest Ecological Products in China: Spatiotemporal Patterns and Evolution

Converting the diverse values of forest ecosystems into economic gains is one of the major challenges in advancing the global sustainable development agenda. As China continues to expand its factor inputs in the forestry sector, the question of whether these large-scale inputs into forest ecosystems have generated commensurate economic returns constitutes the central concern of this study. To address this question, this study proposes the concept of forest ecological product value conversion efficiency (FCE). Using provincial panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2011 to 2023, this study measures FCE and examines its spatiotemporal distribution and evolution characteristics. The findings are as follows. (1) China’s FCE exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, yet scale diseconomies have persisted, indicating that simply expanding factor inputs can no longer sustainably drive FCE gains. (2) Spatially, the economically advanced yet forest-resource-scarce eastern region exhibits the highest FCE, whereas the forest-resource-rich yet economically lagging northeastern region ranks the lowest. This pattern indicates that FCE is not primarily driven by the abundance of forest resources, but rather by the capacity to allocate and convert production factors. (3) A significant catch-up effect among FCE-lagging regions, yet this catch-up potential is contingent on the transferability of successful experiences. When FCE gains in leading regions rely heavily on location-specific resources or exclusive policy support, such experiences tend to resist diffusion, thereby constraining technology transfer and FCE convergence within the region. In summary, this study provides a FCE assessment framework for developing countries facing the dual pressures of forest resource conservation and economic development, and offers empirical evidence for shifting from an input-reliant growth model to a model that prioritizes resource efficiency in the forestry sector.