A Conceptual Review of Value Accounting and Realization Pathways of Ecological Products in Mining Areas

ABSTRACT Globally, mining activities have disrupted over 400 million hectares of terrestrial ecosystems, prompting international initiatives such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which aim to reconcile resource extraction with ecological sustainability. However, research on the realization of ecological product (EP) value in mining areas remains limited, constraining progress in mine reclamation and ecological restoration. Grounded in ecosystem services theory, this conceptual review defines and classifies EPs specific to mining areas and synthesizes current approaches for quantifying their value. A dynamic, tiered framework is then developed to link ecological liability assessment, transitional valuation, and long‐term value realization. By reviewing existing models and representative cases, the study proposes a tailored pathway and framework for EP value realization in mining areas. The framework emphasizes the combined role of government regulation, market instruments, and restoration management in converting ecological value into practical incentives. The study clarifies how ecological restoration outcomes in mining areas can be understood as ecological products and further connected with accounting procedures and realization mechanisms. It also identifies key framework choices and governance pathways that can support future assessment and policy practice in mining regions.