Abstract: How to define, observe, assess, and forecast ecological vulnerability is of significance for maintaining ecosystem stability and realizing regional sustainable development. Based on the analysis of the related researches, this paper discussed the direction, scale, and methodology of ecological vulnerability research, and summarized the researches on the assessment and forecast of ecological vulnerability. It was considered that in the present ecological vulnerability researches, there existed some disadvantages, e.g., imperfect research framework, inconsistent research methods, and uncoordinated relationship between research scale and research precision, and more attention would be paid to the four aspects in the future research: (1) the width and depth of the research, (2) the interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of the research, (3) the establishment of integrative research system containing dynamic monitoring,comprehensive assessment, and trend forecast by using “3S” technology, and (4) the research of related policies and countermeasures in response to ecological vulnerability.

Key words: Windbreaks/shelterbelts, Highly effective and mu lti functional management, Indices and criteria