Sustainable Ecosystems and the Economics of State Ownership: A Three-Stage Structural Framework and Innovative Insights

Natural resources are invaluable assets, embodying economic, ecological, and social significance. They constitute the cornerstone for a country’s knowledge-driven economy and are instrumental in fostering sustainable regional innovation and development. Consequently, numerous nations enshrine in their legal frameworks that natural resources are either the collective heritage of their populace or the property of the state. This unequivocal ownership serves as the legal bedrock upon which the edifice of green industry technology is constructed. Nevertheless, prevailing theoretical constructs have often portrayed ownership as static and one-dimensional, rendering it overly simplistic. Pioneering research has shed light on a hierarchical structure underlying national ownership of natural resources, epitomized by a three-tiered configuration of “the whole people—the state,” “the state—the State Council,” and “the State Council—local government.” This revelation of the hierarchical nature of ownership carries profound implications for elucidating the intricate legal relationships binding these entities. It gives rise to a meticulously defined chain of “ownership subject—representative subject—representative exercise subject—agency exercise subject.” This chain forms the cornerstone for effective natural resource management and ecological preservation. The insights presented herein transcend the conventional understanding of resource ownership, ushering in an era of systematic development that strengthens the legal foundations underpinning these critical tenets.