*Article* **Dynamic Evaluation of Coupling and Coordinating Development of Environments and Economic Development in Key State-Owned Forests in Heilongjiang Province, China**

**Xiangyue Liu 1, Muhammad Arif 2,\*, Zhifang Wan 1,\* and Zhenfeng Zhu <sup>1</sup>**


**Abstract:** This study examines state-owned forest areas in Heilongjiang Province, China, and uses statistical data from 2011 to 2019 to evaluate the dynamic coupling and coordination relationship between the forest environment and economic development. The study aims to provide guidelines for the sustainable development of forest areas. The study concludes that: (1) There is a significant interaction between the environment and economic development, which manifests in coercion and restriction effects during the ecological construction and economic development processes. (2) The forest area environment in 2011–2019, within the coupling and coordination relationship with economic development, was generally of a high quality. (3) Forest environment construction achieved remarkable results in 2011–2019 and benefitted from China's new position on ecological restoration in key state-owned forest areas. (4) The economic development of forest areas after 2015 showed a lag, which restricted the level and progress in the coordinated development of the environment and the economies of the forest areas. (5) During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the key state-owned forest areas still fully incorporated the strategic positioning of ecological protection and economic development coordination. This study provides countermeasures and suggestions to further improve the ecological and economic development of key state-owned forest areas.

**Keywords:** key state-owned forest area; system coupling; ecological construction; economic transformation; grey relational analysis (GRA)
