Mangrove forests are significant blue carbon pools on the Earth with strong carbon sequestration capacity and play an important role in combating climate change. To improve the capacity of regional carbon sinks, China has implemented a Special Action Plan for Mangrove Protection and Restoration (2020–2025). In this context, based on the MaxEnt model, this study analyzed the important environmental factors affecting the distribution of mangrove forests, combined with the planning objectives and carbon density parameters of different regions; assessed the habitat suitability areas of China’s mangrove forests; and predicted their future carbon stock potential. The results showed the following: (1) Elevation was the most important factor affecting the overall distribution of mangrove forests in China, and the optimal elevation of mangrove distribution was 0.52 m. (2) The most suitable areas of mangrove forests in China were mainly distributed in Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong, which had great potential for carbon stock. Danzhou Bay and Hongpai Harbor in Hainan, Lianzhou Bay in Guangxi, and the Huangmao Sea in Guangdong are potential areas for habitat suitability but are not yet under high levels of protection. (3) Achieving the goals of this action plan was expected to increase carbon stocks by 4.13 Tg C. Other suitable areas not included in this plan could still increase carbon stocks by 7.99 Tg C in the long term. The study could provide a scientific basis for siting mangrove restoration areas and developing efficient management policies.

Forest Ecological Product Value Realization (FEPVR) is an important way for China to promote the transition and development of forestry and realize common prosperity. It is critical to assess the effectiveness of FEPVR rationally to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the progress of ecological civilization. Based on the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) model, in this study, we developed an evaluation index system for FEPVR effectiveness containing five subsystems and 37 indicators and assessed the effectiveness of FEPVR in China from 2011 to 2022 by using the linear weighted sum method, the coupling degree of coordination model, and Spearman’s correlation analysis. The results showed that the composite index increased from 0.1980 in 2011 to 0.6501 in 2022, with a general upward trend, but there is still great potential for improvement. The main contribution was from the Response subsystem. The year 2017 was an important turning point for FEPVR in China because its development started to speed up; the status of coupling coordination between different subsystems was gradually improving but was still at a low level. The relationship between all indicators was dominated by a non-significant correlation (52.4%), and the overall synergistic effect (27.8%) was greater than the trade-off effect (19.8%). This study provides a new perspective for evaluating the effectiveness of FEPVR and a decision-making reference for clarifying the direction of FEPVR optimization.

Ecological Product Value Realization (EPVR) is regarded as an effective tool for ecological civilization construction in China and has received widespread attention. Based on the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model, this study constructs a multi-layered evaluation index system for the effectiveness of EPVR in China from a systemic perspective and determines the weights of the indicators through the entropy weight method. On this basis, an empirical analysis of the EPVR effectiveness in China from 2011 to 2021 is conducted using the TOPSIS method, the coupling coordination degree model, and the obstacle diagnosis model. The results show that the whole effectiveness of EPVR in China has been significantly improved during the study period, with the composite evaluation index increasing from 0.1481 to 0.7680, which can be categorized into a slow exploration period (2011 to 2016) and a rapid development period (2017 to 2021). The development effectiveness and the state of coupling coordination varies between subsystems, and the main obstacle factors are not fixed. The above results verify the scientific nature and applicability of the index system, which can provide a new assessment method to promote the efficient utilization of resources and sustainability. This study also makes recommendations in terms of ecological product supply, natural resource utilization, eco-industry, and coordinated development.