Research on the efficiency and influencing factors of realizing the value of ecological products in China's forestry and grassland industry

Abstract This article investigates the efficiency level of ecological product value realization in China's forest and grass industry and its influencing factors in 31 provinces from 2018 to 2022. The investigation is based on the perspective of forest and grass integration, and the SBM‐Malmquist‐Random Forest‐Gray Correlation Model is constructed for this purpose. The findings reveal that from 2018 to 2022, the efficiency level of value realization for ecological products in China's forestry and grassland industry exhibited an upward trend. However, discernible regional disparities were observed, with the eastern coastal regions and resource‐rich areas in the south demonstrating notable efficiency, while the northeastern provinces and Tibet exhibited significantly lower efficiency. The findings of the random forest and gray correlation analyses indicate that the level of urbanization, the level of economic development, government investment, the degree of forest and grassland resources, and the level of science and technology are pivotal factors influencing the value realization of ecological products from forestry and grassland industries. In light of these findings, it is recommended that the Chinese government consider the implementation of additional policies aimed at enhancing the protection of forest and grassland resources, policy investment, and scientific and technological innovation in the future.