Abstract: Ecological value research has provided an essential basis for constructing the new protected area system and practicing the “Two Mountains” Theory. Although current research results have already taken shape, there still exist such problems as unclear concepts and hotspots, which makes it necessary to interpret in-depth the concept connotation and research hotspots and trends of the ecological value of protected areas. Through combing the development history of the concept of ecological value and discriminating relevant concepts, this research constructs a connotation system of the concept of ecological value. Additionally, by virtue of co-word clustering analysis and strategy coordinate analysis, the research systematically combs and interprets the spatial and temporal distribution, high-frequency keywords and research hotspots of the core collection of Web of Science. Research results show that, the number of researches on the ecological value of protected areas is on the rise, with research hotspots taking the assessment and accounting of the ecological value of protected areas as the basis, and the realization and transformation of the ecological value as the main line, while attaching equal importance to both marine and terrestrial protected areas, and specifically, the research hotspot of ecological value realization further gives birth to such branches as stakeholder claims and conflicts, community action mechanism and human well-being promotion. Future research on the ecological value of protected areas in China should to establish a unified assessment system, enrich research perspectives, strengthen applied research, and emphasize marine value.