Abstract: Lichens are a terrestrial biological group, with high abundance and extremely strong survival capability. As an important component of natural ecosystems, they have important ecological functions. Based on the analysis and summary of the ecological characteristics of lichens, this review elaborates the research progress on the ecological function of lichens in the area of soil improvement, carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation and environmental monitoring, aiming to provide scientific basis for full utilization of lichens in environment monitoring and protection. Finally, the problems in the current research are analyzed and future research emphases are prospected.

Key words: lichen, soil improvement, carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation, environmental monitoring.