Research on the Driving Mechanisms of Forest Ecological Product Value Realization:An fsQCA Analysis Based on 43 Typical Cases

In the context of China’s carbon neutrality goals and rural revitalization initiatives, forest ecological products play an important role in promoting low-carbon development, rural economic transformation, and ecological sustainability. However, the mechanisms for activating these values and facilitating their effective realization remain insufficiently understood.Drawing on capital circulation theory, this study develops an analytical framework to explain the realization of forest ecological product values. A sample of 43 cases was compiled from publicly available official data. Quantitative methods were used to assess practical effectiveness, followed by fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify key conditions and causal mechanisms.The results indicate that while the sampled regions demonstrate an initial coordination between economic development and ecological protection, significant regional disparities persist, particularly in central and western China. Efficient value realization is driven by combinations of multiple factors, with varying contributions across cases. Moreover, existing models remain relatively homogeneous and lack a closed-loop mechanism for value realization.The findings suggest that improving value realization requires reducing regional disparities through green finance and cross-regional ecological compensation. Strengthening institutional arrangements—such as property rights definition, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and dispute resolution—is also essential. Additionally, developing region-specific industries and risk-resilient policy instruments can help diversify realization pathways and enhance overall efficiency.