China’s forestry green total factor productivity (2000–2020): a multidimensional analysis from static efficiency to dynamic growth

Forestry productivity measurement increasingly incorporates ecological services, yet existing studies rarely quantify the structural role of forest carbon stock (FCS) or compare how its inclusion reshapes both static efficiency and dynamic productivity trends. Prior research typically relies on a single Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model or conventional total factor productivity (TFP) metrics, leaving a gap in understanding how ecological outputs alter efficiency structures and whether green productivity diverges from traditional measures. This study addresses these gaps by developing a multidimensional framework integrating static and dynamic perspectives to evaluate China’s forestry sector from 2000 to 2020. Using provincial panel data, market and ecological efficiencies are assessed through the slacks-based measure (SBM) and the non-radial directional distance function (NDDF), while green and traditional total factor productivity (GTFP and TFP) are examined via the Meta-frontier Malmquist–Luenberger Productivity Index (MMLPI). Results show that ecological efficiency substantially exceeds market efficiency, and that excluding FCS leads to significant underestimation of green performance. GTFP grows only 1% annually compared with 11% for traditional TFP, with pronounced regional heterogeneity driven by technology gaps and resource endowments. By identifying FCS as a structural determinant of forestry performance, the study clarifies long-standing measurement biases and provides policy-relevant evidence for optimizing ecological investment, guiding region-specific management, and aligning forestry development with China’s dual-carbon goals. The analytical framework offers transferable insights for countries facing similar challenges in balancing economic forestry outputs with carbon-efficiency and ecological service enhancement.