Ecological birdwatching tourism is an ecological product and an essential part of ecotourism, and the realization of its recreation value is crucial for improving human well-being, and realization of the local benefits of ecosystem services for areas focused on biodiversity conservation, especially in bird species. In this study, we use travel cost interval analysis, one of the travel cost derived models featuring more easily satisfied assumptions and less limited data, to evaluate the recreation value of the ecological bird-watching tourism destination, and compare it with the general ecotourism, of Mingxi County destination in China. The results show that, firstly, the per capita recreation value of eco-birdwatching is 3.9 times that of general eco-tourism, its per capita social benefit is three times that of general eco-tourism, and its per capita economic benefit is 4.5 times that of general eco-tourism. Secondly, compared with general ecotourists, the per capita travel costs of eco-birdwatchers are higher, and there were significant statistical differences in the expenses for catering, tickets, shopping, opportunity cost, and total travel expenses between these two groups. Thirdly, in comparison with general ecotourists, the marginal cost of an individual eco-birdwatcher is higher, and the travel intention of an eco-birdwatcher is more robust at the same cost level. The price of a single eco-birdwatcher is higher under the same travel intention demand level. In short, the ecological bird-watching industry has a higher marginal value than general eco-tourism and has higher social, economic, and ecological benefits, bringing a higher level of development for the local tourism industry.

The forestry industry is a low-carbon green industry with great potential for development, but its current development model is facing multiple dilemmas that urgently require a shift to high-quality forestry development. Neoclassical theory and endogenous growth theory consider technology innovation as the foundation of economic growth. In order to explore the impact of forestry technology innovation (FTI) on the economic growth of forestry industry, this paper uses the entropy method, spatial Durbin model, and threshold model to explore the spatial effect of forestry technology innovation on forestry industry economy for analysis and exploration of the non-linear relationship between the two, and the panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2002 to 2020 are used as the sample for empirical study. Results show that: (1) Forestry technology innovation has a significant role in promoting the economic growth of the forestry industry and has obvious spatial spillover effects, which also promotes the economic growth of forestry in neighboring regions. (2) There is a threshold effect of forestry technology innovation on the economic growth of the forestry industry. When the forestry technology innovation exceeds its optimal interval, its effect on the economic growth of forestry industry shows diminishing marginal benefits. (3) Forestry technology innovation has industrial heterogeneity on the economic growth of the forestry industry. Therefore, managers should take advantage of the growth effect of forestry technology innovation in the forestry industry at the level of sustainability, and further make full use of the spatial effect resulting from the flow of technology to establish a system of communication and learning to form a virtuous coordination of the forestry economic environment for the high-quality development of the forestry industry.

In this study, we use the choice experiment method to evaluate the value of wild animals in the surrounding areas of the Changqing National Nature Reserve in China. For areas focused on biodiversity conservation, the results of wild animal value evaluation can provide a basis for the formulation of local ecological compensation standards. We identified wild animals, natural landscape features, infrastructure and facilities, and ticket price as major attributes determining the utility and value of the reserve area. The results of our field survey suggest that the cultural value of wild animals is significantly higher than the value of the infrastructure and other natural landscapes. Tourists indicated a willingness-to-pay of 31.4 Yuan to see wild animals in captivity, compared to 71.9 Yuan to see wild animals in the field. Moreover, tourists with different characteristics have different preferences for the cultural value of wildlife. Female tourists have a higher willingness-to-pay than male tourists. In addition, as age, education, and income level increase, tourists’ willingness-to-pay also increases. These conclusions can provide a reference for local government to formulate wildlife protection compensation and ecotourism ticket pricing.

Under strict ecological protection regimes, identifying development pathways that can be integrated into forest governance without undermining conservation boundaries remains a critical challenge. This study adopts a qualitative case-study approach to examine how forest birdwatching is governed as a form of low-disturbance forest use in Mingxi County, China. Based on semi-structured interviews, field observations, and governance-related materials, the analysis examines governance mechanisms and interaction processes shaping everyday regulatory practices. The findings indicate that forest birdwatching does not function as low-disturbance use by virtue of its activity type alone, but through its progressive embedding within routine forest governance under rigid institutional constraints. Institutional enforcement, spatial zoning, community-based benefit coordination, and media-supported normative regulation interact to stabilize behavioral boundaries, manage participation, and mitigate disturbance risks. The governance significance of forest birdwatching lies not in its direct replicability across regions, but in its value as an analytical reference for understanding how governance elements may be conditionally configured under specific institutional, organizational, and spatial contexts. By clarifying the minimum enabling conditions under which low-disturbance forest use can contribute to collaborative governance outcomes, this study provides a context-sensitive analytical framework for forest governance in ecologically valuable but development-constrained regions.