【 Objective】 By studying the level of integrated development of digital economy and forestry industry in 11 prefectural-level cities in Zhejiang Province, its spatial distribution characteristics, components and their external influencing factors, the integration mechanism of digital economy and forestry industry could be clarified to provide scientific basis for promoting the high-quality development of forestry industry in China. 【Method】 The evaluation index system of development level of digital economy is constructed from three dimensions of digital infrastructure, digital business scale, and digital technology innovation, and the index system of forestry industry development level is constructed from three dimensions of scale, structure, and efficiency. The panel data of 11 prefectural-level cities in Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2021 is collected, and the entropy method, the coupled coordination model, the spatial analysis of the Moran index are applied to measure the integrated development level of the digital economy and the forestry industry, time evolution, regional differences and spatial distribution, and the panel data model is constructed to explore the main external factors affecting the development level. 【 Result】 1) The integrated development level of digital economy and forestry industry in 11 prefectural level cities in Zhejiang Province is relatively low, and there is an annual declining trend. 2) The spatial distribution of the integrated development level in most prefectural level cities in Zhejiang Province varies significantly, and there are negative or positive correlation characteristics in neighboring prefectural level cities. 3) The number of computers per 100 households of rural residents and the number of owned mobile telephones per 100 rural residents have the strongest correlation with the integrated development level. 4) Regional per capita GDP and traffic convenience have a significant negative effect on promoting the integrated development of digital economy and forestry industry, and the digital economy index has a significant positive effect on the integrated development level.【Conclusion】The integrated development level of digital economy and forestry industry in 11 prefectural level cities in Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2021 shows a downward trend with no obvious spatial variations characteristics, and the various components of the digital economy and external factors affect the integration development level of digital economy and forestry industry in different directions and degrees. Therefore, Zhejiang Province needs to attach great importance to the integrated development of digital economy and forestry industry, and take the lead in creating a demonstration highland for high-quality development of the forestry industry empowered by digitization. © 2024 Chinese Society of Forestry. All rights reserved.
