Research on the Coordinated Development of Natural Resource Utilization and Ecological Resilience in Inland Area

China’s inland regions are vital for territorial spatial planning and sustainable development due to their abundant resources. However, the dynamic coordination between natural resource utilization (NRU) and ecological resilience (ER) remains poorly understood. Using panel data from 20 inland provinces in China (2009–2023), this study constructs NRU and ER evaluation systems, with ER assessed through the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework. Indicator weights are determined using an AHP–entropy method. Kernel density, panel vector autoregression (P-VAR), and coupling coordination models are applied to examine spatiotemporal evolution patterns, coordination levels, and interaction mechanisms between NRU and ER. The results show that: (1) The NRU index rises overall, peaking around 2020 (0.706), while the intensity of resource development continues to decline. Regional disparities widen, resulting in a spatial pattern of development intensity that was higher in the west and lower in the east. (2) The ER index continues to rise, accelerating at certain stages, and reaches a peak (0.723) between 2018 and 2020. Geographically, the eastern region led the way, with values decreasing in a stepwise manner, and regional disparities showed relatively gradual changes. (3) The degree of coordination between the two continues to improve, evolving from a “low level of dispersion” to a “medium-to-high level of concentration.” This has resulted in a pattern where the eastern region leads, followed by the central and southwestern regions in succession. Specifically, the EC index rose from 0.429 to 0.615, and the CC index rose from 0.384 to 0.533. Eastern and Central China have already reached a medium level of coordination, while Northwest and Southwest China remain primarily at a basic level of coordination. (4) Significant bidirectional dynamic interactions exist between the NRU and ER, with asymmetric pathways. By region, the NE, EC, and NC exhibit greater fluctuations and higher system sensitivity, while the CC experiences more concentrated short-term shocks; the SW and NW exhibit relatively smoother responses and converge more rapidly. Policy implications highlight the need for region-specific coordination strategies, better alignment between resource development and ecological protection, and enhanced cross-regional governance to support sustainable inland development.