Landslide hazards pose a significant and persistent threat to ecosystem health, making the ecological risk assessment of such hazards essential for effective ecosystem management and proactive risk prevention strategies. This study proposes a comprehensive framework for assessing the ecological risks associated with landslide hazards, grounded in the “probability-loss” theory. This framework synthesizes three critical components: landslide hazard, ecological vulnerability, and potential loss. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework, we conducted an empirical study focused on the upper Yangtze River region, an area characterized by diverse topography and significant ecological value. The landslide hazard assessment was conducted using a random forest model, effectively capturing the complex interactions between various environmental factors contributing to landslide occurrence. Ecological vulnerability was analyzed using a landscape index, providing insights into the susceptibility of different ecosystems within the study area. Additionally, spatial data on ecosystem services and population density were employed to characterize the potential losses resulting from landslide events. The results were as follows: (1) The study area exhibits a predominance of low and very low landslide hazard levels, encompassing 44% and 14% of the total area, respectively. Areas with moderate hazard susceptibility account for 17% of the total area and are mainly located in the northern part of Guizhou Province. High and very high hazard zones constitute 17% and 8% of the total area, respectively, and are primarily concentrated in regions such as Ya'an, Bazhong, and Dazhou in Sichuan Province and the Three Gorges Reservoir area. (2) Ecological vulnerability is pronounced in the study region, with high and very high vulnerability levels covering 40% of the total area. These vulnerable areas are primarily situated in the plains and hills of the Sichuan Basin, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and the Loess Plateau. Notably, potential losses are heavily concentrated in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and the Hengduan Mountain Area, both of which are regions of substantial ecosystem services but are also areas where landslide-induced losses could be severe. (3) Areas of higher ecological risk are observed to be locally clustered, accounting for 3.21% of the total area. These clusters are predominantly located in the basins of the Min River, Dadu River, and Yangtze River. The causes and mechanisms underlying the elevated ecological risk in the upper Yangtze River region exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity. Human activities, such as land use changes and infrastructure development, have been found to exert a substantial influence on the ecological risks associated with landslide hazards in this region.