Chinese forest ecosystem research network: A platform for observing and studying sustainable forestry

Abstract

Long-term research network is a power tool for studying the structure and functions dynamics of forest ecosystems at regional, national and global scale. In particular, it is essential to construct such a nationwide network in terms of implementing scientific research and the result-based implication in policy making. Over the last two decades, a great progress has been achieved in the establishment of the Chinese Forest Ecosystem Research Network (CFERN), with some distinct features relative to other nation-scale networks in the world. Currently, as the largest forest ecosystem research network of a single ecosystem type, CFERN consists of more than 70 stations, covering 49 forest types across the country, which is a platform for observing and studying sustainable forestry. In the arrangement of CFERN stations, crucial geographical, climatic, biological and human factors, such as temperature, moisture, landscape topography, Chinese ecological function zoning, biodiversity hotspots and critical areas of forests, were integrated at the national level. Among CFERN stations, two national-level transects, the North-South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC) (heat-based) and West-East Transect of Southern China (WETSC) (moisture-based), were set up, respectively. To efficiently run the CFERN, a series of general guidelines have been developed for station infrastructure construction, biological and environmental monitor, data management and application for local stations. Utilizing the data of CFERN, scientific research results have been achieved and some were used for national- and international-level policy making. All these information of CFERN was systematically introduced in this paper, with great help to scientists, managers, policy makers and the public, who are concerned with the characteristics and functions of China’s forest ecosystems at the national and international scales, especially this network was regarded as a platform which plays a role in communicate with experts in other countries.