Research on the Path of Realizing the Value of Ecological Products—Taking the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas as the Goal

The concept of sustainable development requires humanity to change their perception of the singular value of nature, enabling people to recognize the value of the natural world as a pathway to understanding. Currently, a key focus of research is how to promote rural sustainable development by realizing the value of ecological products. The pastoral complex is a significant carrier for realizing the value of ecological products, and the assessment and accounting of its ecological product value serve as essential foundations for realizing such value. However, existing research on the evaluation and accounting of ecological product value is mostly conducted on a larger scale, such as administrative divisions or natural ecosystems, with relatively fewer studies on small-scale economic entities. Therefore, this study intends to select the pastoral complex, a typical economic entity, as the research object, make clear the value types of ecological products of the pastoral complex through theoretical analysis and field research, and use the Delphi method and AHP to build an ecological product value evaluation system to carry out ecological product value accounting for the pastoral complex. The results showed that the Taihe Water Pastoral complex scored 7.045 points and was rated as excellent, while the Yinmin Fruit and Vegetable Pastoral complex only scored 4.579 points and was rated as excellent. Good ecological environment and high-quality ecological products have positive effects on the value evaluation of ecological products. The evaluation system constructed in this study can effectively reflect the ecological product value of pastoral complexes, and through in-depth comparison, present specific pathways for realizing this value. This provides a scientific reference for the sustainable development of rural areas, supports rural revitalization, and promotes equitable rural prosperity.