TITLE:
Research Progress on the Valuation of Forest Ecosystem
AUTHORS:
Xinya Zhou
KEYWORDS:
Forest Ecosystem, Ecosystem Services, Value Assessment, Indicator System
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Forest ecosystems play a pivotal role within the global ecological framework, significantly contributing to the maintenance of Earth’s ecological balance and the sustainable development of human society. To clarify the current evaluation system of forest ecosystem service values, this study retrieves relevant literature from the Web of Science Core Collection and the CNKI CSSCI/CSCD journal databases using keywords such as “forest ecosystem services,” “value assessment,” and “accounting methods.” It systematically reviews the progress in domestic and international research from three perspectives: the fundamental concepts of forest ecosystem services, value assessment methodologies, and practical applications of value accounting, aiming to promote theoretical refinement and practical implementation of forest ecosystem services. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of commonly used methods for valuing eight key forest ecosystem services, including water conservation, soil retention, carbon sequestration and oxygen release, Nutrient accumulation, environmental purification, forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and landscape recreation. Findings indicate that the direct economic value of forest products such as timber, flowers, and fruits is primarily assessed using the market price method, while the indirect economic values of services like water conservation and soil retention are quantified by integrating big data and modeling to evaluate ecosystem service physical quantities, followed by calculations employing the shadow engineering approach, replacement cost method, and equivalent factor method. Although the methodological framework and evaluation indicators for forest ecosystem service valuation in China are continually being enriched and refined, numerous shortcomings persist. Future efforts should focus on optimizing measurement techniques and technical tools, enhancing data acquisition capabilities, and improving the comprehensiveness and scientific rigor of ecosystem service function assessments. These advancements will provide theoretical and methodological references for promoting rational allocation of forest resources, facilitating the value transformation of ecological products, and strengthening the protection and sustainable management of forest ecosystems.