Assessing ecological product values in the Yellow River Basin: Factors, trends, and strategies for sustainable development

•The study assesses ecological product values in the Yellow River Basin.•The entropy value method was used to assess the ecological product’s value.•Results reveal ecological product value increased from ¥5.73 to ¥6.54 trillion.•Findings indicate rural development and agriculture lowered ecological values.•The study emphasizes balancing ecological and economic factors in policy-making. This study evaluates the value of ecological products in the Yellow River Basin, China within the “Two Mountains” theory framework prioritizing ecological conservation and quality growth. Major basin cities were analyzed to quantify ecological product value flows from 2011 to 2020 using an entropy approach assessing rural dynamics, financing, governance, manufacturing, and economic structuring. Entropy valuations of datasets from 38 basin municipalities showed aggregated ecological product values increased from ¥5.73 trillion in 2011 to ¥6.54 trillion in 2020. Spatial disparities were observed with mid-upper basin regions exhibiting significantly higher valuations than lower basinal areas. The novel entropy valuation methodology provides localized quantification of ecological product values aligned with China's sustainability initiatives. The multivariate panel regression model shows that while rural development and agricultural fiscal support negatively impact ecological product value, environmental regulation and advanced industrial structures have a strong positive influence. Furthermore, quantile regression analysis reveals heterogeneities in the distribution of explanatory variables across different quantiles of ecological product value. This offers a comprehensive view of the various factors and dynamics influencing ecological product values in the Yellow River Basin. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of balancing ecological value realization with economic growth, particularly in coastal cities of the Basin. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing ecological value and advancing environmental protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.