Are We Living in Harmony with Nature? Assessing the Ecological–Economic Relationship in China: A Symbiotic Perspective

Exploring the relationship between the economy and the ecosystems in China could not only be beneficial for achieving the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature but also offer scientific references for the international society. This study aimed to elucidate the long-term ecological–economic relationship in China from the symbiotic perspective of ecosystem services value (ESV) and gross domestic product (GDP). On the basis of multiple datasets, yearly ESV maps from 1990 to 2020 were first produced using unit value method. Employing the Lotka–Volterra (L–V) symbiosis model and Bivariate Local Moran’s I, the coordination and proximity relationships between GDP and ESV at the provincial level were then investigated. The results revealed that the overall ecological–economic relationship for the study area is predator–prey (ESV–GDP), indicating that ecological conservation and restoration have been prioritized over economic development in China, while, at the provincial level, 3 provinces follow a traditional economic development path that sacrifices ecosystem health. The research findings revealed the hotspots for ecological security in China. The implications for the international society were further discussed, including the potential application of the L–V symbiosis model in government performance evaluation, inclusive policies on ecological conservation and economic development in the developing countries, as well as a long-term dynamic perspective on ecological–economic relationship.