A Composite Index-based Approach for Hierarchical Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Health: An Example of Pinus tabulaeformis

Assessing forest ecosystem health is an effective way for forest resource management. Taking as an example Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., a superior afforestation species in northern China, this study establishes a forest health assessment model and a three-level indicator system using the analytic hierarchy process. The results showed that Pinus tabulaeformis forest health is proposed for evaluation into four grades by composite index (HI), ill-health forest was 48.39% among the sample plots, and average HI was accounted for 25% of healthy forest. So Pinus tabulaeformis forest ecosystem was in development stage; additionally, at an altitude of 1500 ~ 1800 m, slope 35 ~ 40 °, Pinus tabulaeformis forest were the most healthy in western Qinling Moutain. Forest community stability change with altitude is evident unimodal curve form, stability is a downward trend when the elevation and slope is too low or too high. This evaluation indicator system is suitable for extending its application in forest health judgment. The evaluation results have certain guiding significance for regional forest management and nurturing.

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