*Article* **Exploring the Role of Forest Resources Abundance on Economic Development in the Yangtze River Delta Region: Application of Spatial Durbin SDM Model**

**Qian Zhang 1,2,\*, Decai Tang 3,4 and Valentina Boamah <sup>4</sup>**


**Abstract:** With the data of 41 cities, including urban and rural areas in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2007 to 2019, this paper mainly uses the spatial econometric method to analyze the impact of forest resource abundance in the YRD region on economic development under the background of carbon neutrality. Direct effects, indirect effects, and total effects are further decomposed. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The abundance of forest resources in the YRD has a U-shaped non-linear effect on economic development, and the curse of forest resources will gradually form forest resource welfare with economic improvement. (2) The phenomenon of economic convergence exists in the YRD region. (3) The spatial effect of forest resource abundance on economic development is non-linear, and the increase in greenery and carbon reduction should be moderately reasonable. (4) The abundance of forest resources can also promote the development of green total factor productivity. The research in this paper complements the existing literature and provides a reference for policymakers.

**Keywords:** Yangtze River Delta; forest resources abundance; economic development
