Ecological zoning is essential for optimizing regional ecological management and improving environmental protection efficiency. While previous studies have primarily focused on the independent analysis of land use intensity (LUI) and landscape ecological risk (LER), there has been limited research on their coupled relationship. This study, conducted in the Western Jilin (WJL), introduces an innovative ecological zoning method based on the Production–Living–Ecological Space (PLES) framework, which explores the interactions between LUI and LER, filling a gap in existing research. The method employs a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to construct an LUI-ERI coupling model, which is used to delineate ecological zones. The results indicate that: (1) The PLES in the study area is predominantly production space (PS), with the largest area of transfer being production ecological space (PES) 2784.23 km2, and the most significant transfer in being PS 3112.33 km2. (2) Between 2000 and 2020, both LUI and LER exhibited downward trends, with opposite spatial distribution characteristics. The “middle” intensity zone and “highest” risk zone were the dominant LUI and LER types, covering approximately 46% and 45% of the total area, respectively. (3) The coupling coordination degree between LUI and LER showed a polarized trend, with an overall upward trajectory from 2000 to 2020. (4) The ecological zoning of the WJL can be categorized into an ecological core protection (ECP) zone, ecological potential governance (EPG) zone, ecological comprehensive monitoring (ECM) zone, ecological optimization (EO) zone, and ecological restoration (ER) zone, with the ecological core protection area occupying 61.63% of the total area. This study provides a novel perspective on ecological zoning and offers a systematic scientific basis for regional ecological management and spatial planning.
