New-type urbanization (NTU) in China not only effectively promotes socio-economic transformation but also serves as a significant driving force for the coordinated development of regional social and environmental demands. Using data from China spanning 2007–2018, this study examines the effects and mechanisms of NTU on regional public health (RPH) by constructing panel fixed-effects, threshold-effects, moderated-effects, and spatial spillover models. The findings are as follows: ① NTU plays a significant role in promoting RPH. Threshold analysis reveals distinct threshold effects for employment density and industrial structure sophistication. ② Socio-economic agglomeration plays an important moderating role in the relationship between NTU and RPH. Specifically, there is a significant substitution effect between economic agglomeration and NTU in affecting RPH, while population agglomeration improves NTU’s positive effect. ③ Across the eastern, central, and western regions, NTU has a positive impact on RPH, with the strength of influence increasing progressively. However, in economically developed regions, the effect is non-significant. ④ NTU shows significant spatial spillover effects on RPH, with indirect effects exceeding direct effects. The main factor influencing NTU’s inhibitory effect on RPH is whether regions are adjacent.

Although collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) has improved the legal tenure security of forestland, its impact on increasing farmers’ income is unsustainable. This study used a multiple linear regression model to empirically analyze data from 505 farmers in Jiangxi Province, examining the impact of legal, actual, and perceived tenure security on rural household income, and incorporating migration into the framework. The findings indicate that both actual and perceived tenure security have a substantial positive impact on the total rural household income and forestry income. However, it is worth noting that legal tenure security only has a positive effect on forestry income. Furthermore, outside-of-county labor migration can serve as a mediator for the income effects of actual and perceived tenure security. However, the mediating effect of intra-county labor migration is not considerable. The study found that the increase in income due to the security of actual tenure security is significant for the group of people who own less than 50 mu of forestland. However, both actual and perceived tenure security have a significant impact on income for the group of people who own more than 50 mu of forestland. The aforementioned findings indicate that, in the ongoing extensive advancement of collective forest right reform, it is crucial to prioritize the execution of forest reform policies at the local level and enhance farmers’ awareness and comprehension of said policies. In addition, the government should enhance the monitoring system for policy implementation and intensify efforts in publicizing these policies, in order to fully utilize the benefits of CFTR.

This study empirically examines the influence of digital financial inclusion (DFI) on forestry green total factor productivity (FGTFP) in China. Using panel data from 30 provinces between 2013 and 2019, FGTFP is measured using the super slacks-based measure–Malmquist–Luenberger (SBM–ML)index. The Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index is employed as a proxy to estimate the effects of DFI through fixed-effects regressions, while mediation and threshold mechanisms are also evaluated. The empirical results indicate that DFI significantly improves FGTFP, although this promotion exhibits a non-linear, single-threshold pattern with respect to the level of technological innovation (TI). Further mechanism analysis reveals that DFI enhances FGTFP by optimizing the industrial structure (IS) and strengthening technological innovation. Regarding regional heterogeneity, the positive effect is significant in the eastern region but remains insignificant in the central and western regions. Consequently, it is suggested that policies should prioritize digital infrastructure and inclusive finance penetration in lagging areas, utilizing targeted funds to accelerate forestry technological innovation and service-oriented industrial upgrading.

China’s forest ecological security (FES) system is currently undergoing a transformative phase characterized by the synergy between quantitative expansion and qualitative improvement. Against the backdrop of advancing ecological civilization, China has particular difficulties juggling economic expansion with ecological preservation. Improving forestry green total factor productivity (FGTFP) is regarded as a crucial pathway to achieving the dual objectives of “sustaining forestry growth without deforestation and ensuring ecological security without compromising output.” This study employs panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2004 to 2018. The entropy weight method and super-efficiency SBM-GML index model are utilized to quantitatively measure FES and FGTFP, respectively. This empirically examines the underlying mechanisms and threshold effects governing their relationship. The results indicate that FGTFP significantly improves FES, with urbanization exerting a positive moderating effect. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that FES dividends derived from FGTFP are more pronounced in southern collective forest regions and economically developed areas. Further threshold testing uncovers distinct patterns: once economic agglomeration surpasses specific thresholds, FGTFP triggers a stepwise surge in its positive effect on FES. While crossing its respective threshold, the tertiary industry share exhibits an inverted U-shaped trajectory. This research elucidates the stage-specific patterns of China’s green forestry transition, offering differentiated policy insights for fostering high-quality forestry development and strengthening the national ecological security barrier.