Abstract:
With the intensification of global awareness of ecological and environmental preservation, national parks have emerged as pivotal entities in the natural conservation realm and borne the dual mandate of safeguarding ecological integrity and fostering sustainable development. While serving as critical sanctuaries for biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, these protected areas tangibly manifest a nation′s dedication to conserving its natural heritage. In recent years, the valorization of ecosystem products within national parks has become a fundamental concern in advancing ecological conservation and unlocking the potential of ecological dividends. In this context, ecosystem products refer to the natural resources and ecosystem services provided within the demarcated boundaries of national parks, with characteristics of scarcity, public welfare attributes, and multifunctional nature.Based on the theoretical framework of social-ecological complex systems, this study comprehensively elucidates the theoretical underpinnings necessary for the valorization of ecosystem products within national parks. Moreover, the critical conditions essential for value realization are explored. This study highlights the importance of sustainably providing ecosystem services, strategically integrating market mechanisms with institutional support, incorporating community participation and equitable benefit-sharing frameworks, establishing scientifically robust ecosystem product valuation systems, and advancing environmentally sustainable industries. The mechanism for valorizing ecosystem products in national parks encompasses processes such as assetization, capitalization, commodification, and monetization. Through integration of ecological conservation with market dynamics and policy instruments, this approach facilitates the economic transformation and sustainable provision of ecosystem products. Furthermore, seven archetypal models for the valorization of ecosystem products are scrutinized, including ecological protection compensation, environmental rights trading, resource ownership transactions, the development of ecological industries, concession operations, public education, and scientific research. By empirically evaluating the efficacy and applicability of these models, the research identifies a synergistic multi-path strategy as the optimal approach to realize the value of ecosystem products in national parks. As highlighted by the research findings, the valorization of ecosystem products in national parks is hinged on a collaborative multi-stakeholder mechanism, which includes governmental, market, and community actors. On the one hand, ecological protection compensation mechanisms play an indispensable role in ensuring the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. On the other hand, models such as environmental rights trading and the development of ecological industries are crucial for advancing the marketization of ecosystem products. Moreover, community participation and benefit-sharing frameworks foster local engagement, enhance communal ownership, and ensure the equitable distribution of benefits, so that a synergistic balance between ecological conservation and economic development is promoted. Overall, the study advocates for enhancing ecological protection compensation frameworks, developing scientifically rigorous valuation systems, promoting branding and market competitiveness within ecological industries, and reinforcing the market-based transaction systems to guarantee the enduring and sustainable utilization of ecosystem products in national parks.