This study aims to assess the value of ecological products in rare earth mine restoration areas, explore the factors influencing changes in ecological product value, and provide a scientific basis for optimizing mine restoration models and enhancing the value of ecological products in specific regional units undergoing rare earth mine ecological restoration.

Taking Xunwu County, Jiangxi Province, as a case study, we constructed a theoretical framework and accounting system for the value of ecological products in the rare earth mine restoration areas based on statistical and survey data from 2010, 2016 and 2022. The functional value method was used to estimate the value of ecological products in the rare earth mine restoration areas of Xunwu County and to reveal their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, while the geographic detectors were used to analyze the influencing factors.

1) The value of ecological products varied significantly among different restoration areas. The value of ecological products in the “restoration + industry” area decreased by 11.8485 million yuan because of industrial park construction, whereas the values in the comprehensive resource utilization area and ecological greening area increased by 227.6748 million yuan and 5.0726 million yuan, respectively; 2) During the study period, the growth in ecological product value showed clear stage-specific characteristics. From 2010 to 2016, constrained by the scale of ecological restoration project implementation, the value of ecological products increased by only 12.7162 million yuan. From 2016 to 2022, the total value increased by 208.18260 million yuan, accompanied by coordinated improvements in ecological, economic, and social benefits; 3) The duration and area of ecological restoration projects were the dominant factors affecting the realization of ecological product value in rare earth mining areas, while the interaction between capital investment per unit area and ecological restoration project area was the most significant.

Rare earths are key strategic resources for modern industry; however, intensive mining has caused systemic ecological problems in mining areas, including forest degradation, soil erosion and microclimate deterioration. Ecological restoration in typical rare earth mining areas has significantly enhanced ecosystem service functions through comprehensive measures such as terrain consolidation, water-system management, and vegetation restoration, thereby increasing the supply capacity of ecological products. To further improve ecological governance in rare earth mining areas, a diversified mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products should be established to increase the economic value of the ecological restoration areas; nature-based solutions should be adopted to optimize restoration pathways and value-realization mechanisms; and synergies between land development and urbanization should be strengthened to promote coordinated economic and ecological development.