Exploring the Realization Level and the Obstacles Affecting Different Types of Ecological Product Value—A Typical Case from Zhejiang, China

Abstract

The realization of ecological product value (EPV) is a crucial pathway for green economic development and the practical implementation of both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and China’s “Two Mountains Theory”, which emphasizes the need for harmony between ecological protection and economic growth. While China has initiated several pilot projects, there remains no consensus on the classification of ecological products or the measurement of EPV realization levels, largely due to limitations in the existing accounting systems, which fail to address EPV’s complexity. This study introduces a novel framework for measuring EPV realization, categorizing ecological products into pure public, quasi-public, and operational types. It demonstrates the economic value of ecological conservation, providing viable economic incentives for green development. This framework allows governments and businesses to see that protecting and sustainably utilizing natural resources can also yield economic benefits, thus offering a new feasible pathway for green development. Using Zhejiang Province as a case study, the authors present an improved coupling coordination model and a mechanical equilibrium model to assess EPV levels, emphasizing the importance of tailored regional strategies. Additionally, an obstacle degree model is employed to identify and analyze the factors limiting EPV realization. The results show that (1) different types of ecological products follow distinct value realization paths within the “economic–ecological–social” system; (2) EPV realization varies significantly across regions, with a trend of being lower in the southwest and higher in the northeast; (3) obstacles to value realization differ across subsystems, with particular attention needed to improve quasi-public ecological products in the ecological and social domains; (4) factors such as pesticide use and the number of tourist attractions affect EPV realization at the provincial and municipal levels, respectively. This study presents a new EPV measurement framework and highlights the spatial–temporal variability of EPV realization across regions. It provides valuable insights for developing countries and ecologically vulnerable areas seeking to optimize their EPV realization, supporting sustainable development and advancing “Two Mountains Theory” transformation.

1. Introduction

Ecological product value emphasizes the multiple benefits that ecological products bring in the transition to a green economy, including balanced development across economic, social, and environmental aspects. Current policies and research usually limit the economic value of ecological resources to the market transaction value of natural resources, but this valuation approach overlooks these public goods’ characteristics and the non-market values of ecosystems. As a comprehensive value system, EPV can systematically assess the balance between ecological priorities and economic development within ecological products. EPV provides clear data support to the government by quantifying ecosystem functions (such as water purification and flood control) as economic values, enabling policymakers to better balance ecological protection and economic development. This makes the economic contributions of ecological resources more apparent, encouraging policies that prioritize long-term ecological benefits over short-term economic gains. Therefore, we believe that exploring the realization of ecological product values can offer a new perspective for green development policies. The ecological product value (EPV) represents the economic, social, and ecological benefits derived from the rational development of ecological resource stocks. This concept highlights the balance between economic growth and environmental conservation, forming a new model of ecological prioritization and green development, which is vital for sustainable development. While Zhejiang Province, as the pilot province for EPV realization, has achieved significant success [1,2,3] in this area, the broader significance of EPV lies in addressing global challenges of sustainability, especially in relation to how to balance growth with ecological preservation. Practical challenges in realizing ecological product values include difficulties in measurement, mortgaging, trading, and their overall realization [4]. These challenges create a significant gap between theoretical accounting and the actual realization of ecological value. This gap is the basis of the scientific question of how to effectively translate ecological value into economic terms, which is a key issue hindering the full implementation of the “Two Mountains” theory. Based on the realization levels of various categories of ecological product value and the barrier factors constraining the realization of various types of ecological product value, we distinguish which types of ecological products are suitable for protection, for development, and for market-oriented management. This approach clarifies the priorities in the implementation of practical policies, thereby achieving a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

Academics have extensively explored the mechanisms, models, and implementation paths for realizing EPV [5,6,7,8,9,10]. These studies provide a theoretical foundation, while various quantitative methods have been developed and applied for EPV accounting [11,12,13,14,15]. However, most of these studies focus on theoretical explorations, with limited research addressing the practical obstacles of EPV realization, which is what this study seeks to investigate further. Xie Gaodi and colleagues developed the Equivalent Factor Table for China’s Ecosystem Services [16,17], which is a tool widely used in ecosystem service value accounting and one of the primary methods of EPV measurement [18,19]. Although significant strides have been made, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation methods that consider the complexities of ecological product value realization. This can easily lead to overestimation or underestimation [20]. Therefore, this study uses the black box theory to address the complex dynamics in EPV realization [21,22]. By viewing the process as a black box, we aim to measure the coordination level of the “economic–ecological–social” system from input to output, providing new insights into the factors that hinder or facilitate EPV realization. This approach not only deepens our understanding of EPV but also offers innovative solutions for addressing the practical challenges in transforming the “Two Mountains” theory into actionable outcomes.

Based on the above analysis, the authors conduct a theoretical analysis of the types, value expressions, and realization paths of ecological products. This study provides a theoretical foundation for constructing an indicator system to measure the realization level of EPV. Secondly, it builds an indicator system based on the “economic–ecological–social” system that incorporates different product categories. Using the improved coupling coordination degree model, it measures the realization level of EPV in Zhejiang Province and its cities from 2008 to 2020. It also employs the mechanical equilibrium model to verify the robustness of the measurement results, revealing the characteristics of the realization levels seen. Finally, the obstacle degree model is used to identify obstacle factors in the realization level of EPV. This study aims to improve the accounting system of EPV, establish market mechanisms, and promote the coordinated realization of EPV within the “economic–ecological–social” system using a scientific basis.

2. Measurement Framework and Indicator System

2.1. Measurement Framework

The integration of sustainable development and ecological civilization concepts positions the realization of EPV as an acritical bridge connecting “green mountains and clear waters” with “mountains of gold and silver”. The core of the realization of EPV lies in converting the inherent value of high-quality natural resources into use value and exchange value. EPV serves as a bridge between “Sustainable Development” (SD) and “Ecological Civilization” (EC) by facilitating a shift in focus from isolated ecological or economic benefits to the achievement of comprehensive social benefits. Within this framework, EPV aims to balance economic output with coordinated social and environmental development. Consequently, EPV emerges as a robust tool that encapsulates the principles of sustainable development, fostering synergy among ecological conservation, economic progress, and social well-being, while establishing a vital link between SD and EC. In the absence of EPV, governments may struggle to quantify the economic contributions of ecosystems, hindering the comprehensive assessment of ecological conservation’s economic value. This lack of data may lead to policies that prioritize short-term economic gains, thereby neglecting the long-term costs associated with ecological degradation. Based on the current practice of ecological product value in China, the theoretical connotation of realizing the value of ecological products can be summarized as follows: (1) Economic output efficiency: the realization of EPV focuses on improving economic output. (2) Non-degradation of the ecological environment: the realization of EPV addresses externalities in the ecological environment and adheres to the principle of ecological priority. (3) Expansion of social benefits (the social benefits of ecological products mainly refer to the positive impact they have on the overall well-being and sustainable development of society while meeting the needs of human socio-economic activities): the realization of EPV can further expand social benefits through improving environmental quality and enhancing public awareness of sustainable development.

Owing to factors such as ecological environment, technological level, and market transactions, the value realization paths of different types of ecological products vary. Choosing the appropriate realization path is key to ensuring the efficient transformation of EPV. Thus, it is vital to categorize ecological products, identify suitable value realization paths for each type, and evaluate the efficiency of EPV realization under various pathways. Currently, academia has not reached a consensus on classification standards for ecological products. Existing classifications are mainly based on value performance [23], product form [18,19], ecosystem service function theory [24], public goods theory, and the supply–demand perspective [25,26,27]. Drawing on existing research and practical cases, this study categorizes ecological products into pure public ecological products, quasi-public ecological products, and operational ecological products and analyzes their value realization from economic, ecological, and systemic perspectives [28].

Pure public ecological products originate from ecological resource stocks [29]. Their value realization is closely related to the utility of these resources and depends on human protection and restoration. Therefore, ecological protection compensation emerges as the primary path for realizing the value of pure public ecological products. Government-led investments in environmental pollution control and rural renewable energy play a critical role in value realization within the economic subsystem. In the ecological subsystem, their value can be indirectly reflected by observing air quality and soil erosion control. In the social subsystem, the value realization of pure public ecological products is reflected indirectly by the frequency of environmental emergencies in human society.

Quasi-public ecological products are derived from pure public ecological products through property rights determination [30]. They have a certain scarcity and can be precisely measured. The value realization of quasi-public ecological products relies on rights management and market investment. Therefore, the main path for value realization of quasi-public ecological products is ecological service payment. In the economic subsystem, the government and the market are the main drivers, realizing their value through ecological investment, rights trading, and service payment. In the ecological subsystem, the state of the agricultural ecosystem can indirectly reflect the realization of EPV, such as the amount of compound fertilizer applied per unit area and the rate of agricultural technological progress. In the social subsystem, the value of quasi-public ecological products is reflected in the ecological benefits obtained by society, such as the number of national 4A and above tourist attractions and the green coverage rate in built-up areas.

Operational ecological products involve the highest degree of human labor among all ecological products. They share attributes with traditional agricultural products and tourism services, giving them the exchange value of commodities. Their value realization hinges on human management and development. Therefore, development-driven market mechanisms serve as the main path to realizing their value. This is primarily achieved through resource utilization and cultural development initiatives. In the economic subsystem, operational ecological products’ value is reflected in the economic returns of ecological material products. In the ecological subsystem, their value is evident in metrics such as the reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP and the urban sewage treatment rate. In the social subsystem, indicators like per capita retail sales of consumer goods and per capita GDP highlight their value realization.

In summary, different types of ecological products have different and complex implementation paths in each system. Black box theory, originating from systems theory and control theory in the mid-20th century, is particularly useful for studying systems with unobservable or highly intricate internal processes. Previous studies have suggested that ecological products are the ultimate product of the black box interaction between human needs and the multifunctionality of cultivated land. This study draws on black box theory and proposes an innovative approach to measure the realization of ecological product value (as shown in Figure 1). It regards the complex process of ecological product value realization as a black box, classifies the ecological products at the input end, and analyzes the specific performance of the value realization level of various ecological products in the “economic-ecological-social” system at the output end, thereby achieving accurate control over path selection.

2.2. Indicator System

Based on the above analysis, this study selects appropriate indicators from the “economic-ecological-social” systems according to the classification characteristics, value performance, and realization paths of ecological products, as well as the availability and accuracy of data, to comprehensively measure the value level of ecological products. The specific indicators are shown in

Table 1. Indicators for measuring the realization level of EPV.

System	Category	Implementation Path	Indicator	Source	Direction
Economic Subsystem A	A1 Public ecosystem products (government)	Ecological restoration	A11 Investment in environmental pollution control (million yuan)	the Statistical Yearbook of Natural Resources and Environment of Zhejiang Province	+
		Ecological compensation	A12 Rural Renewable Energy Inputs (million yuan)		+
	A2 Quasi-public ecosystem products (government and market)	Ecological investment	A21 Forestry investment (million yuan)		+
		Entitlement transactions	A22 Discharge fee income (million yuan)		+
	A3 Business ecosystem products (Market)	Primary industry expansion	A31 Ecological products realization (material product value realization)	Calculate using data from Zhejiang Statistical Yearbook, China Agricultural Statistical Data, and China Agricultural Product Prices	+
		Tertiary industry integration	A32 Total Ecotourism Revenue Ecology (billion yuan)	the Statistical Yearbook of Tourism of Zhejiang Province	+
Ecological Subsystem B	B1 Public ecosystem products (government)	Ecological restoration	B11 Number of days with air quality attainment of Level 2 or higher as a percentage of the year (%)	the Statistical Yearbook of Natural Resources and Environment of Zhejiang Province	+
			B12 Soil erosion control area (thousand hectares)		-
	B2 Quasi-public ecosystem products (government and market)	Ecological governance	B21 Natural disasters occurring resulting in crop failure (thousand hectares)	Calculate using data from the Zhejiang Provincial Statistical Yearbook and China Agricultural Statistical Data	+
			B22 Pesticide use load per unit area (t/hm2)		+
			B23 Fertilizer application load per unit area (t/hm2)		+
			B24 Agricultural Science and Technology Progress Rate		+
	B3 Business ecosystem products (Market)	Secondary industry extension	B31 Energy consumption reduction rate per unit of GDP	the Statistical Yearbook of Chinese Urban Construction	+
			B32 Urban sewage treatment rate		+
Social Subsystem C	C1 Public ecosystem products (government)	Ecological restoration	C11 Number of environmental emergencies	the Statistical Yearbook of Natural Resources and Environment of Zhejiang Province	-
			C12 Green space per capita (square meters)	the Statistical Yearbook of Chinese Cities	+
	C2 Quasi-public ecosystem products (government and market)	Ecological governance	C21 Greening coverage of built-up areas		+
		Ecological investment	C22 Number of national 4A and above tourist attractions in the location	List of Zhejiang Tourism Demonstration Zones	+
		Transfer of property rights	C23 Degree of disposable income per capita differentiation between urban and rural residents	the Statistical Yearbook of Zhejiang Province and prefecture-level cities Statistical Yearbook	-
	C3 Business ecosystem products (Market)	Tertiary industry integration	C31 Total retail sales of social consumer goods per capita (yuan)		+
		Primary Industry Expansion	C32 Per capita access to gross eco-products ($)		+

The years of the data source are 2008 to 2020.

.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Subsection

Zhejiang Province is located in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta region in China, between 118°01′ to 123°10′ east longitude and 27°02′ to 31°11′ north latitude. Zhejiang Province has various topographical features, including mountains, hills, plains, basins, and islands, with mountains and hills being predominant. The terrain is higher in the southwest, mainly consisting of mountains, and lower in the northeast, mainly consisting of plains. Zhejiang Province has favorable climatic conditions and abundant ecological resources, with forest cover consistently ranking among the highest in the country. Zhejiang Province is divided into 11 prefecture-level cities. In northeastern Zhejiang, there are Hangzhou, Ningbo, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Shaoxing, and Zhoushan; in southwestern Zhejiang, there are Wenzhou, Jinhua, Quzhou, Taizhou, and Lishui, as shown in Figure 2.

Over the past 20 years, Zhejiang Province’s “Ten Million Project” has created thousands of beautiful villages, benefited farmers, and received the highest environmental award, the “Champions of the Earth” award from the United Nations Environment Programme. As China’s first pilot city for ecological product value realization, Lishui has established an ecological products value accounting system. Other cities have also embarked on their own exploration and practice processes. For instance, the comprehensive land consolidation case in Liangnong Town, Ningbo, and the establishment of a water fund to promote market-based ecological protection compensation in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, have been selected as classic cases of ecological product value realization. This indicates that Zhejiang Province is at the forefront of realizing ecological product value.

However, there are still challenges within Zhejiang Province, such as unbalanced levels of ecological product value realization and the slow development of the ecological product trading market. These issues are mainly due to significant differences in economic levels and natural environments between the prefecture-level cities as well as the variety of ecological product types. Counties have similar natural environments and a high degree of homogeneity in ecological product types within the same prefecture-level city. To analyze the overall realization level of ecological product value (EPV) in Zhejiang Province, we focus on the differentiation characteristics at the city level. It not only provides a theoretical basis for the overall planning of the provincial ecological products realization mechanism but also helps local governments achieve effective coordination in resource allocation, policy implementation, and economic development. It serves as a reference for enhancing the value realization of ecological products at the county level. By establishing a coordination mechanism for ecological product development centered on the city level and linking provincial and county governments, macro-level direction is provided for overall planning. Therefore, the selection of Zhejiang Province and its 11 prefecture-level cities as research areas to measure the realization level of EPV is of practical significance.

3.2. Data Sources

The sample data selected for this study are the data of Zhejiang Province and 11 prefecture-level cities from 2008 to 2020, and the data were obtained from the Statistical Yearbook of Zhejiang Province, the Statistical Yearbook of Natural Resources and Environment of Zhejiang Province, the Statistical Yearbook of Tourism of Zhejiang Province, the Price Data of Agricultural Products of China, the Statistical Yearbook of Chinese Cities, the Statistical Yearbook of Chinese Urban Construction, the Statistical Information of Chinese Agriculture, and the prefecture-level cities Statistical Yearbook. To address the issues of data consistency and gaps among different subsystems, preprocessing was performed on the collected data: first, standardization and dimensionless processing were applied to the statistical data; second, integrated analysis was conducted at the prefecture-level city unit to ensure the precision and reliability of the model when handling these data. Additionally, we further validated the robustness of the model results by comparing the outcomes of the coupling coordination model and the mechanical balance model.

3.3. Measurement Methods

Firstly, the realization level of EPV in each subsystem is calculated using the entropy value method. The entropy value method is a statistical approach used for objective weighting, primarily applied in comprehensive evaluations and multi-criteria decision making. Its basic principle is to use entropy values to measure the amount of information provided by each indicator. Secondly, an improved coupling coordination degree model was employed to assess the coordination realization level of EPV in Zhejiang Province. The barrier factors affecting the realization level of EPV in Zhejiang Province were analyzed using the barrier degree model. Finally, the mechanistic equilibrium model was utilized to substantiate the dependability of the measurement outcomes [31,32].

(1)

The entropy value method is specified by the following formula.

$$C_{ij}^{\prime }={\displaystyle \frac{\left[C_{ij}-\mathit{min}\left(C_j\right)\right]}{\left[\mathit{max}\left(C_j\right)-\mathit{min}\left(C_j\right)\right]}},C_{ij}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{v}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{r}$$

(1)

$$C_{ij}^{\prime }={\displaystyle \frac{\left[\mathit{max}\left(C_j\right)-C_{ij}\right]}{\left[\mathit{max}\left(C_j\right)-min\left(C_j\right)\right]}},C_{ij}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{s}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{v}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{r}$$

(2)

$$p_{ij}={\displaystyle \frac{C_{ij}^{\prime }}{\sum _{i=1}^m{C}_{ij}^{\prime }}}$$

(3)

$$e_j=-{\displaystyle \frac{1}{lnm\sum _{i=1}^n{p}_{ij}{lnp}_{ij}}}$$

(4)

$$w_j=1-{\displaystyle \frac{e_j}{\sum _{i=1}^n\left(1-e_j\right)}}$$

(5)

$$U_i=w_j\times \sum _{j=1}^n{a}_{ij}^{\prime }$$

(6)

where $C_{ij}$ represents the value of the j-th indicator in the i-th city, and $C_{ij}^{\prime }$ is the dimensionless processed result of $C_{ij}$. $p_{ij}$ is the proportion of the j-th indicator in the i-th cit. $e_j$ and $w_j$ are the information entropy and weight of the j-th indicator, respectively. $U_i$ represents the realization level of EPV in economic, ecological, and social subsystems.

(2)

Improved coupling coordination degree model and mechanical equilibrium model

This study selected the coupling coordination model and the mechanical equilibrium model, primarily based on the multidimensional characteristics of ecological product value (EPV). The coupling coordination model effectively reflects the interactions between ecological, economic, and social systems, while the mechanical equilibrium model can assess the dynamic interactions and equilibrium states among different elements. In comparison to other commonly used ecological or economic models, these methods are more appropriate for the capture of the intricate synergistic effects and structural alterations that occur during the realization level of EPV. Furthermore, these models offer high flexibility and adaptability, enabling a comprehensive representation of the non-linear relationships among various systems. This provides a solid theoretical foundation for precise EPV evaluation.

(1)

Improved coordination degree model equation is as follows.

$$C=\sqrt{\left[1-{\displaystyle \frac{\sum _{i>j,j=1}\sqrt{{(U_i-U_j)}^2}}{\sum _{m=1}^{n-1}m}}\right]\times {\left(\prod _{i=1}^n{\displaystyle \frac{U_i}{max{U}_i}}\right)}^{{\displaystyle \frac{1}{n-1}}}}$$

(7)

$$T=\sum _{i=1}^n{\alpha }_i\times U_i,\sum _{i=1}^n{\alpha }_i=1$$

(8)

$$D=\sqrt{C\times T}$$

(9)

where $C$ is the coupling degree. $U_i$ represents the realization level of EPV in ecological products in economic, ecological, and social subsystems, respectively. $T$ is the total realization level of EPV in economic. ${\alpha }_i$ is the coefficient. $D$ is the coordination degree of the realization level of EPV among three subsystems. The larger the value of the coordination degree, the more balanced the development of each subsystem, representing a better coordination degree.

(2)

The mechanical equilibrium model equation is as follows.

$$\left\{\begin{array}{c}\stackrel{⃑}{OA}=\left(x_A,y_A\right)=\left(0,OA\right)\\ \stackrel{⃑}{OB}=\left(x_B,y_B\right)=\left(\cos \left({\displaystyle \frac{1-\frac{\left|OB\right|}{OB}}{2}}\pi -{\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{6}}\right)\left|OB\right|,\sin \left({\displaystyle \frac{1-\frac{\left|OB\right|}{OB}}{2}}\pi -{\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{6}}\right)\left|OB\right|\right)\\ \stackrel{⃑}{OC}=\left(x_C,y_C\right)=\left(\cos \left({\displaystyle \frac{1-\frac{\left|OB\right|}{OB}}{2}}\pi -{\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{6}}\right)\left|OB\right|,\sin \left({\displaystyle \frac{1-\frac{\left|OB\right|}{OB}}{2}}\pi -{\displaystyle \frac{5\pi }{6}}\right)\left|OB\right|\right)\\ \stackrel{⃑}{F_{\mathrm{c}}}=\left(x_{\mathrm{c}},y_{\mathrm{c}}\right)=\left(\stackrel{⃑}{OA}+\stackrel{⃑}{OB}+\stackrel{⃑}{OC}\right)=\left(x_A+x_B{+x}_C,y_A+y_B+y_c\right)\end{array}\right\}$$

(10)

$$\begin{gathered} \rho =\sqrt{x_{\mathrm{c}}^2+y_{\mathrm{c}}^2} \\ \left\{\begin{array}{c}\theta =\arctan \left({\displaystyle \frac{y_c}{x_{\mathrm{c}}}}\right),y_{\mathrm{c}}\ge 0\\ \theta =\arctan \left({\displaystyle \frac{y_{\mathrm{c}}}{x_{\mathrm{c}}}}\right)+2\pi ,y_{\mathrm{c}}<0\end{array}\right. \end{gathered}$$

(11)

where $\stackrel{⃑}{OA}, \stackrel{⃑}{OB}, \stackrel{⃑}{OC}, \stackrel{⃑}{F_{\mathrm{c}}}$ represent the vector expression of the realization level of EPV in economic, ecological, and social subsystems and the combined force of the three subsystems, respectively. $\rho$ represents the degree of coordination, and the smaller the value of the degree of coordination, the more balanced the development of each subsystem and the better the degree of coordination.

(3)

The barrier degree model equation is as follows [33].

$$M_j={\displaystyle \frac{\left(1-C_{ij}^{\prime }\right)\times \left(P_{ij}\times W_i\right)}{\sum _{i=1}^{21}\left(1-C_{ij}^{\prime }\right)\times \left(P_{ij}\times W_i\right)}}\times 100\mathrm{\%}$$

(12)

$$B_i=\sum _{j=1}^m{M}_j$$

(13)

where $M_j$ is the barrier of the j-th single indicator, $C_{ij}^{\prime }$ is the standardized single indicator value, $P_{ij}$ is the weight of the j-th indicator in the i-th system, $W_i$ is the weight of the i-th system, $B_i$ is the barrier of the i-th system.

4. Results

4.1. Characteristics of Time-Series Changes in the Coordinated Level of Ecological Products Value Realization in the Province

The entropy method, the improved coupling coordination degree model, and the mechanical equilibrium model were employed to calculate the realization level of EPV in each subsystem in Zhejiang Province, and the comprehensive coordination level is calculated, as shown in Figure 3. During the study period, the coupling coordination degree index among the three subsystems rose from 0.4299 in 2008 to 0.7771 in 2020. This indicates that the realization level of EPV among different systems has exhibited a gradual and sustained improvement over time. As illustrated in Figure 3D, the mechanical equilibrium index has demonstrated a consistent decline, from 0.2143 in 2008 to 0.1507 in 2020. This further substantiates the assertion that the realization level of EPV has exhibited a consistent and sustained improvement over time, thereby ensuring the robustness of the calculated results.

The realization level of EPV has undergone a transition from a “fluctuating rise” to a “steady rise”. During the fluctuating rise stage (2008–2012), the EPV realization level across different systems was generally low and characterized by fluctuations. Figure 3 illustrates that following 2010, there was a notable increase in the EPV realization level, particularly within the social subsystem. During this period, the value realization was primarily driven by pure public and quasi-public ecological products. This was largely attributed to the introduction of ecological products in the “National Main Functional Area Planning” of 2010. Nevertheless, by 2012, the realization of EPV in the ecological subsystem remained low, and the potential of operational ecological products was underdeveloped. The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed the enhancement of the production capacity of ecological products. However, the concept was not sufficiently developed, resulting in difficulties in balancing the development and utilization of ecological resources, which subsequently led to a decline in EPV realization. Significant challenges remained in integrating and balancing agricultural activities with the provision of tourism services. The challenge of balancing the time commitments of farmers between service roles and agricultural production remained a significant obstacle. Furthermore, fluctuations in public awareness and purchasing power for ecotourism and ecological products have resulted in a lower and more variable EPV realization level.

During the period of steady growth between 2013 and 2020, there was a consistent improvement in the levels of realization of EPV across the various systems. The economic and ecological subsystems’ value realization levels began to approach those of the social subsystem, largely due to a shift in China’s primary social contradictions and Zhejiang Province’s exploration of value realization mechanisms for ecological products. Concurrently, China’s economic transformation and upgrading accelerated, with Zhejiang Province achieving a leading economic development level. The expansion of purchasing power resulted in a heightened demand for a diverse range of refined and high-quality products and services, particularly within the agricultural and tourism sectors. This resulted in a more profound integration of primary and secondary industries within Zhejiang Province, with operational ecological products serving as the driving force behind value realization within the economic subsystem. Concurrently, a series of policy documents facilitated enhanced public comprehension of the concepts of ecological products and value realization. These documents elucidated that ecological products serve as vehicles for the realization of natural resource value and advocated for diverse, market-oriented ecological compensation methods. Consequently, quasi-public ecological products became a fundamental element in the realization of value within the ecological subsystem, establishing a foundation for sustained advancement in the realization of EPV in Zhejiang Province.In general, from 2008 to 2020, the realization of EPV demonstrated a pattern of fluctuating growth, driven by the varying contributions of different ecological products across the three subsystems. During the period of fluctuating growth, pure public and quasi-public ecological products were the primary drivers of EPV realization. In the subsequent period of steady growth, the economic subsystem assumed a pivotal role in EPV realization, fostering enhanced coordination among the three subsystems, with operational ecological products serving as the primary driver.

4.2. Characteristics of Inter-Regional Variation in the Level of Coordination of Ecological Product Value Realization

We further analyzed the differentiation characteristics of the coordination level of ecological product value realization among regions in Zhejiang Province, as shown in Figure 4. Overall, from 2008 to 2020, the realization level of EPV in various cities of Zhejiang Province improved. It showed a fluctuating upward trend. It is evident that there is a considerable disparity in the realization level of EPV among the various regions. The inverse relationship between the coupling coordination degree and mechanical equilibrium coordination degree curves is particularly evident. This suggests that the analysis results obtained at the city level are more accurate.

Figure 4 illustrates that the realization levels of EPV in various cities exhibited fluctuating upward trends with distinct characteristics over the course of the study period. These trends can be classified into three stages: (1) 2008–2012, the steady rise stage: the realization levels of EPV in urban areas demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory, predominantly driven by the ecological subsystem. (2) 2013–2016, fluctuating rise stage: the trends in EPV in urban areas exhibited a diversity of patterns, including growth followed by decline, stagnation, and decline followed by recovery. The coordination indices for Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Zhoushan demonstrated a pattern of initial growth, followed by a subsequent decline. The value realization level of the social subsystem exhibited a gradual increase. Jiaxing, Ningbo, Quzhou, Shaoxing, and Wenzhou exhibited stagnation, whereas Jinhua, Lishui, and Taizhou demonstrated a decline followed by recovery. The growth rate of the social subsystem decelerated, with the ecological subsystem becoming the primary driver of value realization improvements. (3) 2017–2020: The period was characterized by stability. The trends in the EPV of the cities in question were classified as either growth, stagnation, or growth followed by decline.

Table 2. Characteristics of the different stages of development of each prefecture-level city.

Segmentation Stage	Development Trend Characteristics	Prefecture-Level City	Key Development Drivers
2008–2012	Growth	11 local cities	Ecological Subsystem
2013–2016	Growth followed by a decline	Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Zhoushan	Social Subsystems
	Stagnation	Jiaxing, Ningbo, Quzhou, Shaoxing and Wenzhou	Ecological Subsystem
	Slipping and then rebounding	Jinhua, Lishui and Taizhou	Ecological Subsystem
2017–2020	Growth	Hangzhou and Ningbo	Social Subsystems
	Stagnation	Taizhou and Wenzhou	Ecological Subsystem
	Growth followed by a decline	Huzhou, Jiaxing, Jinhua, Lishui, Quzhou, Shaoxing and Zhoushan	Ecological Subsystem

illustrates that Hangzhou and Ningbo exhibited a growth trend, while Taizhou and Wenzhou demonstrated stagnation. The remaining cities displayed a growth followed by decline trajectory.

This study employed ArcGIS 10.6 for visualization purposes, in accordance with the classification standards established by Wang Shujia. The Jenks natural breaks method is employed to categorize cities into five types of coordination: moderate imbalance, slight imbalance, near imbalance, barely coordinated, and initially coordinated. These categories serve to highlight the regional differences in the realization of value pertaining to ecological products. Figure 5 illustrates that there are no instances of severe imbalance or recession in the cities’ realization of ecological product value. Nevertheless, disparities in the realization of ecological product value are discernible among cities, attributable to spatial and resource dissimilarities. In particular, the cities of northeastern Zhejiang demonstrate superior performance in comparison to those in southwestern Zhejiang.

With regard to the coupling coordination degree index, the southwestern Zhejiang cities of Quzhou, Jinhua, Taizhou, and Lishui exhibited a relatively low level of coordination, classified as a moderate imbalance. Over the course of the study period, these cities demonstrated improvements, progressing from a slight imbalance to a near imbalance. In the northeastern region of Zhejiang, the cities of Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, and Zhoushan demonstrated a progression from slight imbalance to near imbalance. Furthermore, Hangzhou and Ningbo demonstrated notable advancement, progressing from a state of near and slight imbalance to that of barely coordinated and initially coordinated, respectively. Despite commencing the study period with a relatively low level of coordination, Ningbo surpassed Hangzhou in 2018, reaching the initially coordinated stage and continuing to demonstrate improvement.

The study identifies the following key reasons for the observed spatial differences: Firstly, the mountainous terrain in the southwest constituted an obstacle to the early development of transportation, limiting access to ecological tourist attractions and affecting the coordinated realization of ecological product value across economic, ecological, and social dimensions. Secondly, the cities in northeastern Zhejiang benefit from a number of factors, including technical advantages in the development of economic and ecological products, proximity to Jiangsu and Shanghai, and the purchasing power of residents for ecological products. It is noteworthy that Lishui, with its superior ecological resources and robust local government support, has consistently demonstrated a leading role in the realization of ecological product value among southwestern Zhejiang cities.

4.3. Analysis of the Barriers to the Realization of Ecological Product Value

4.3.1. Provincial-Level Analysis

The obstacle values and factors were calculated and identified during the study period by using the obstacle degree model (Figure 6 and Figure 7).

Figure 6 shows that, during the study period, the obstacle values fluctuated significantly among different systems and product categories. Overall, from 2008 to 2018, the economic and ecological subsystems had higher obstacle values, while the social subsystem had relatively lower obstacle values. After 2018, the obstacle value of the ecological subsystem increased sharply, becoming the highest, while the economic subsystem’s obstacle degree relatively declined. From 2008 to 2012, pure public ecological products had higher obstacle value. After 2012, quasi-public products had higher obstacle value. This indicates that pure public and quasi-public ecological products are the main categories restricting the realization of the ecological products’ value.

As previously mentioned, the categories of ecological products that influence the coordination level of ecological product value realization vary across different years. It is necessary to further analyze and calculate the obstacle value of various factors for different product categories within different systems, as shown in Figure 7. The primary factors leading to higher obstacle value in the economic subsystem are investments in environmental pollution control, investments in rural renewable energy, and total tourism revenue. In the ecological subsystem, the main factors contributing to higher obstacle value are the area of soil erosion control and the amount of pesticide used per unit area. In the social subsystem, which has a lower obstacle value, the degree of income disparity between urban and rural residents is the main obstacle factor.

4.3.2. Prefecture-Level Analysis

To further analyze the reasons for differences in the coordination level of ecological product value realization among regions, obstacle degree calculations were performed for each city. The results revealed that quasi-public and operational ecological products had higher obstacle value in the economic and social subsystems. In some years, Ningbo, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Wenzhou, and Taizhou experienced higher obstacle value in the social subsystem than in the economic subsystem. The factors influencing the obstacle degree of ecological product value realization varied across different periods. The largest obstacle factors in each city were identified (

Table 3. Major barrier factors by city.

Main Obstacle Factors	City
A12, B32, C12	Hangzhou, Ningbo, Huzhou, Jinhua, Quzhou, Taizhou, Lishui
A32, B32, C12	Jiaxing
A32, B32, C22	Wenzhou
A12, B32, C22	Zhoushan

) and included investments in rural renewable energy, urban sewage treatment rates, per capita green space area, total tourism revenue, and the number of national 4A-level and above tourist attractions. In summary, the obstacle values of subsystems and individual indicators vary across cities. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a dynamic mechanism for ecological product value realization that is tailored to local conditions, based on changes in obstacle value and factors.

5. Discussion

5.1. The Perspective and Methods for Measuring the Realization Level of EPV

The existing literature primarily focuses on the pathways, models, practical explorations, case studies, and institutional support for the realization of ecological product value. However, limited attention has been given to measuring the realization level of ecological product value (EPV), which is essential for designing pathways, models, and institutions for EPV realization. Unlike previous studies, this research applies black box theory to address the complex internal processes involved in EPV realization. It constructs a value realization framework based on product classification within the “economic-ecological-social” system to measure the realization level of EPV. From a research perspective, this study emphasizes the realization level of EPV within the “economic-ecological-social” system framework, a comprehensive approach that aligns with mainstream ecological economics research. This perspective highlights multi-system and multidimensional considerations. Additionally, this study identifies differences and trends in EPV realization levels across regions and periods. It specifically examines variations in value realization among different ecological product categories, a relatively rare focus in existing research. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the value realization processes for various types of ecological products and addresses the limitations of prior studies that predominantly focus on overall analyses. Regarding measurement methods, this study employs an improved coupling coordination degree to measure and evaluate the coordination level of EPV realization. This approach enhances validity and is further verified using the mechanical equilibrium model, ensuring robust results.

5.2. Spatiotemporal Differentiation of the Realization Level of EPV and Identification of Obstacle Factors

In terms of research findings, the realization of ecological product value (EPV) has progressed through two distinct stages, “fluctuating rise” and “steady rise”, reflecting the complexity and phase-specific nature of the EPV realization process. During the fluctuating rise stage, the ecological subsystem served as the primary driver of value realization, whereas in the steady rise stage, the economic subsystem gradually emerged as the main driving force. This finding provides theoretical support for the varying contributions of different systems to EPV across these stages. Additionally, this study reveals significant spatial differences in EPV realization among cities, emphasizing the influence of geographical location and resource endowment on the coordination of local economic and ecological development. Economically developed cities in northeastern Zhejiang demonstrate higher EPV levels, while cities in southwestern Zhejiang lag behind. This observation aligns with existing research. For instance, Lin Yiqing’s study found that the overall value realization rate of ecological products in Lishui is relatively low, with unbalanced efficiency across different ecological products [34]. Policy and technological factors also play a pivotal role in EPV realization, underscoring the importance of policy guidance and technological innovation. Overall, the empirical evidence obtained from measuring the achievement levels of various ecological product categories and identifying barrier factors in Zhejiang Province provides a quantifiable EPV measurement framework. This framework is applicable to policy design and offers practical insights for local governments in formulating effective policies.

In the obstacle degree analysis, pure public ecological products and quasi-public ecological products exhibit higher obstacle values. This result is expected, as the inherent characteristics of pure public ecological products constrain their value realization in market transactions [35]. Quasi-public ecological products, which can achieve value realization through institutional design and market mechanisms, face challenges due to the absence of diversified value conversion and transaction mechanisms [36]. From a systems perspective, ecological products encounter higher obstacle values within the economic and ecological subsystems, underscoring the challenges in value realization and transactions [37]. This represents a significant bottleneck in the current stage of ecological product value realization in China. Key factors impeding the value realization of pure public ecological products include investments in environmental pollution control, rural renewable energy input, and soil erosion control. Pure public ecological products primarily support ecosystem sustainability through ecological restoration and management. However, the long cycle, high investment, and low return rates associated with ecological restoration and management make investments in pollution control and renewable energy critical.

5.3. Contributions, Limitations, and Future Work

The marginal contributions of this study are primarily reflected in the following two aspects: (1) Building on previous research, this study adopts the fundamental “economic-ecological-social” systems framework, comprehensively considers the categories of ecological products, establishes an indicator system, and applies an improved coupling coordination model to measure the coordination level of value realization among the three systems. This approach accurately captures the value realization level of ecological products. Additionally, the mechanical equilibrium model is employed for measurement and comparative analysis, ensuring the scientific validity and robustness of the results. (2) This study thoroughly examines the spatiotemporal characteristics and obstacle factors affecting the realization level of EPV. It provides valuable insights for the development of ecological products in various cities and offers theoretical support for the comprehensive planning of ecological products at the provincial level. However, two main limitations in the current research must be acknowledged. First, statistical errors in the data collection and analysis process cannot be eliminated. Second, the realization of ecological product value in the market is subject to uncertainty.

This study highlights the dynamic coordination between different systems in the process of realizing the value of ecological products through a coordinated analysis of the “economic-ecological-social” system. Future research should prioritize cross-regional scales, exploring the causal relationships between various economic, social, and regional factors and their corresponding indicators within Zhejiang Province. Additionally, it should investigate long-term policies to address persistent challenges in realizing the value of ecological products. For instance, by referencing international payment models for ecosystem services, increasing investment in rural renewable energy, and strengthening the development of ecological tourism, researchers could identify key driving factors influencing the realization of ecological product value and further refine the indicator system. Analyzing the correlation between these factors and the realization of ecological product value can provide empirical evidence for more targeted policy formulation, thereby enhancing coordinated development across regions. Moreover, although this study focuses on Zhejiang Province, the coupling coordination model and mechanical balance model employed are highly adaptable. For regions with differing ecological and economic structures, these models can be optimized by adjusting parameters and weight settings. Therefore, future research could explore the applicability of these models in other regions and develop a more refined indicator system tailored to different ecological product values, ensuring the broad applicability of the research findings.

6. Conclusions

The realization of ecological product value (EPV) can mitigate conflicts of interest stemming from ecological resource development in different regions, particularly in areas with uneven resource distribution and significant economic disparities. This contributes to the construction of ecological civilization and the alleviation of social conflicts. For instance, EPV can help quantify the economic benefits of ecological resources, enabling various interest groups to recognize the value of protecting these resources. In turn, this reduces social conflicts arising from disputes over land or resource use and increases the likelihood of broad support for ecological conservation policies. This study adopts the “economic-ecological-social” system framework and integrates the perspective of ecological product categories to establish an indicator system. It employs the improved coupling coordination model and the mechanical equilibrium model for measurement, alongside the obstacle degree model to identify limiting factors. The results indicate the following:

The results measured using the two models reveal significant spatial heterogeneity and volatility in ecological product value (EPV) realization levels across cities in Zhejiang Province from 2008 to 2020. Temporally, the realization levels of EPV in various cities follow stages of steady rise, fluctuating rise, and stability. Spatially, coupling coordination levels in northeastern Zhejiang cities outperform those in southwestern Zhejiang.

At the provincial level, from 2008 to 2018, the economic and ecological subsystems in Zhejiang Province exhibited higher obstacle values, while the social subsystem had lower obstacle values. After 2018, the ecological subsystem’s obstacle value increased sharply, becoming the highest, whereas the economic subsystem’s obstacle value declined. Pure public and quasi-public ecological products gradually emerged as those with the highest obstacle values. At the individual indicator level, key factors contributing to higher obstacle values in the economic subsystem include investments in environmental pollution control, rural renewable energy input, and total tourism revenue. In the ecological subsystem, the primary factors are the area of soil erosion control and the amount of pesticide used per unit area. In the social subsystem, which consistently exhibits lower obstacle values, the degree of income disparity between urban and rural residents is the main obstacle factor.

At the municipal level, during the study period, ecological products in the economic and social subsystems consistently faced high obstacle values. In certain years, cities, such as Ningbo, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Wenzhou, and Taizhou, experienced higher obstacle values in the social subsystem than in the economic subsystem. At the individual indicator level, the main obstacle factors in these cities include rural renewable energy input, urban sewage treatment rate, per capita green space area, total tourism revenue, and the number of national 4A-level and above tourist attractions. Among these cities, the top three obstacle factors for Hangzhou, Ningbo, Huzhou, Jinhua, Quzhou, Taizhou, and Lishui remained consistent.

Despite these challenges, there is room for improvement in EPV realization levels in Zhejiang Province, accompanied by clear regional heterogeneity among cities. Based on the findings and the goals of ecological civilization construction, this study proposes the following recommendations: (1) At the provincial level, provide targeted support for quasi-public ecological products through institutional policies and technical innovations. Strive for balanced value realization by promoting the economic subsystem while simultaneously enhancing the ecological subsystem. (2) At the municipal level, increase the development of quasi-public ecological products in economically underdeveloped cities to facilitate a transition from stock to flow. (3) Prioritize the development of rural renewable energy and forestry construction to create employment opportunities and enrich social pathways for EPV realization. (4) Strengthen the development of ecotourism, prevent the degradation and cancellation of scenic spots, and promote the exploration and development of low-cost, eco-friendly tourism projects.