Evaluationof forest ecosystem product value in the Taihang mountains, Hebei province: A case study of Laishui county

Assessing the value of forest ecological products is of great significance for enhancing integrated regional ecosystem conservation and promoting the effective transformation of ecological resources into economic value. Laiyuan County, located in the northern Taihang Mountains, is an important ecological function area with rich forest resources, yet its forest ecological products have not been fully quantified. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of forest ecological products by integrating forest resource inventory data, ecological monitoring datasets, and socio-economic statistics, following the Specifications for Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services (GB/T 38582—2020). Forest ecological products were classified into provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. Physical quantities were calculated using standard ecological models that incorporated local climatic, hydrological, and forest stand data, while monetary values were estimated through market-based approaches, replacement cost methods, and benefit transfer techniques. Spatial analysis at the township scale was applied to examine the distribution patterns of both physical quantities and monetary values, as well as differences among forest stand types and unit-area values. The results show that: 1) In 2024, the total value of forest ecological products in Laiyuan County reached 8.42×10⁸ yuan·a⁻¹, with a unit-area value of 7.64×10⁴∙hm^-2∙a^-1. The combined effects of regional natural conditions and forest structural characteristics resulted in significant differences in unit-area values of forest ecological products among different areas. 2) The value contributions of different functional categories are ranked as follows: water conservation, biodiversity conservation, soil conservation, atmospheric purification, carbon sequestration and oxygen release, forest recreation and health, timber product supply, and forest nutrient retention. Among these, the relatively high replacement cost of water resources is one of the main reasons why the value of the water conservation function is markedly higher than that of other ecological products. 3) The value of forest ecological products exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with higher values generally concentrated in the southeastern region and lower values in the central and western regions. This spatial differentiation is jointly driven by forest area and forest quality. 4) Among different forest types, total value ranked from highest to lowest as broad-leaved forest, shrub forest, coniferous forest, and mixed conifer-broad-leaved forest, while the mixed conifer-broad-leaved forest showed the highest unit-area value, reflecting superior forest quality. Therefore, future forest management and ecological construction in Laiyuan County should place greater emphasis on the central and western regions. On the basis of conserving existing forest resources, forest stand structure should be optimized in accordance with site conditions and ecological function demands. Through the rational allocation of coniferous and broad-leaved species and the promotion of transitions from pure broad-leaved forests to mixed conifer-broad-leaved forests, the stability of forest ecosystems and the capacity for ecological product provision can be further enhanced.