Abstract:

Forest is one of the most complicate terrestrial ecosystems in the world and plays an important role in sustaining the global life system. Forest services include water conservation, prevention of soil erosion, climate regulation, environmental purification, biodiversity conservation and recreation. Based on the characteristics and connotation of forest ecosystem services, the physical and value assessment methods, including market value method, shallow engineer method, production cost method and opportunity cost method, were used to evaluate the forest ecosystem services in Wulingyuan Natural Reserve. The results showed that the total annual services value of forest ecosystem in Wulingyuan Natural Reserve were up to 2.05×10⁹ Yuan (RMB), of which 1.22×10⁸ Yuan for water conservation, 6.54×10⁷ Yuan for CO₂ absorption,7. 16×10⁷ Yuan for O₂ release, 3.22×10⁷ Yuan for soil fertility conservation, 8.98×10 Yuan for environmental purification and 1. 67×10⁹ Yuan for forest recreation in 2002.

Key words: Forest ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Ecological services valuation, Wulingyuan Natural Reserve