Abstract:
There is a complex relationship between economic growth and ecological protection. How to transform abundant ecological assets into tradable and consumable ecological products to achieve economic value appreciation is of great significance for Hebei Province to achieve sustainable development. This study is based on the land use data of Hebei Province in 2012, 2017, and 2022. The water balance equation, revised soil loss equation, revised wind erosion equation, and the carbon storage and sequestration module of the InVEST model were used to calculate the physical quantities of water conservation, soil conservation, wind erosion control, and carbon sequestration services in Hebei Province. Shadow project method, substitution cost method, and market value method were employed to calculate their value quantities, and the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of gross ecological regulation service product were analyzed. A four-quadrant model was introduced to categorize regions into four types: Eco-Economic Synergy Zone, Ecological Affluence Zone, Dual-Disadvantaged Lagging Zone, and Material Prosperity Zone. Case studies were integrated to identify suitable pathways for realizing the value of ecological regulation service products. The research results show that: (1) From 2012 to 2022, the per capita value of ecological regulation service products in Hebei Province showed a declining trend, with a spatial distribution characterized by "higher values in the north and lower in the south, prominent in mountainous areas, and weaker in plains." Meanwhile, the per capita gross regional product exhibited an upward trend, spatially distributed as "higher in the east and lower in the west, with a transitional pattern in the central region." (2) Between 2012 and 2022, the proportion of counties and districts in Hebei Province classified as the Ecological Affluence Zone increased by 2.99%, while those in the Material Prosperity Zone saw an increase of 1.20%. However, the proportion of counties in the Eco-Economic Synergy Zone decreased by 1.79%, reflecting that a balance between economic development and ecological protection has not yet been achieved across these regions. (3) In promoting regional "eco-economic" coordinated development, the following composite pathways are recommended for different types of counties and districts: For counties within the Eco-Economic Synergy Zone, a combined approach of “ecological property rights trading + ecological indicator trading + eco-industrialization” is proposed to achieve a win-win outcome in both ecological and economic development. Counties classified under the Ecological Affluence Zone are advised to adopt a pathway integrating “ecological property rights trading + ecological indicator trading + horizontal ecological compensation” to foster economic growth while ensuring ecological conservation. In the Dual-Disadvantaged Lagging Zone, a strategy emphasizing “vertical ecological compensation + ecological remediation and restoration + eco-industrialization” is recommended to address dual challenges in ecological and economic conditions. For counties belonging to the Material Prosperity Zone, a composite model of “ecological remediation and restoration + industrial ecologicalization + horizontal ecological compensation” should be implemented to strengthen ecological protection while advancing economic development. Through an in-depth analysis of the value realization paths of regulatory service ecological products in Hebei Province, this study can provide strong support for formulating scientific and reasonable value realization strategies.