Research on the Impact Mechanism of Forestry-Related Leading Enterprises’ Viability on Corporate Sustainable Survival

Under strict environmental regulations and intense market competition, resource-dependent enterprises face severe survival challenges. Achieving sustainable survival through the construction of internal capabilities, particularly in the absence of long-term external subsidies, represents an urgent conundrum for forestry enterprises. Integrating relevant economic and management theories, this study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which the “viability” of forestry-related leading enterprises influences their sustainable survival. Using a sample of 179 forestry-related leading enterprises in Inner Mongolia—a typical resource-rich region in China—and based on panel data from 2021 to 2023, we constructed a viability evaluation system encompassing factor endowment, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial traits, and conducted empirical analysis using statistical models. The results indicate that: (1) Enterprise viability is the core driving force promoting sustainable survival; (2) E-commerce adoption serves as a critical bridge connecting internal capabilities with external survival performance, playing a significant mediating role; (3) The higher the degree of external openness and the stronger the regional industrial comparative advantage, the more pronounced the promoting effect of viability. Furthermore, this promoting effect is significantly stronger in regions with lower ecological constraints and higher industrial agglomeration. This study suggests that policy formulation should shift from simple financial support to the cultivation of enterprises’ endogenous capabilities. By supporting technological innovation, digital transformation, and optimizing the business environment, policies can facilitate the long-term sustainable survival of enterprises.