TITLE:
The Study of Forest Management Evaluation System Based on the Improvement of Wildlife Habitat Quality
AUTHORS:
Weicai Zhou, Yuhao Jiang, Hongchun Wang, Linlin Zhao
KEYWORDS:
Forest Management, Habitat Quality, Wildlife, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Evaluation System
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.17 No.3,
March
4,
2026
ABSTRACT: With the intensification of global climate change and human activities, forest ecosystems face issues such as structural simplification, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity decline. Traditional forest management evaluation systems, which focus primarily on timber production or single ecological functions, are no longer sufficient to com-preventively reflect the impact of forest management measures on wildlife habitat quality and ecosystem stability. In response to meet the need for the transformation of forest management from resource utilization to ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation, constructing a forest management evaluation system centered on improving wildlife habitat quality has significant theoretical and practical implications. Based on relevant theories in ecology, landscape ecology, and forest management, a three-tier evaluation system was developed (goal layer, criterion layer, indicator layer). Through literature analysis, expert consultations, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), 35 core evaluation indicators were selected from four dimensions: biodiversity, forest structure, ecological functions, and socio-economic & management. A weighted composite evaluation model was constructed to quantitatively assess the impact of forest management measures on habitat quality. The system’s applicability and sensitivity were tested in the Yanshan-Taihang Mountain forest area, using plot surveys, wildlife monitoring, and statistical data. 1) Biodiversity and forest structure indicators had higher weights, making them the primary drivers of habitat quality variation in the study area; 2) Ecological function indicators played a sustained role in supporting habitat quality, reflecting the stability and resilience of the forest ecosystem; 3) Socio-economic and management indicators contributed less individually but were essential for regulating human disturbances and ensuring the long-term improvement of habitat quality. Overall, the evaluation system accurately reflected the changes in forest habitat quality under different management scenarios. This study emphasizes the improvement of wildlife habitat quality as the core objective of forest management evaluation. The developed multi-dimensional evaluation system is ecologically oriented and highly operational, offering a scientific basis for near-natural forest management, habitat restoration, and the optimization of forest management plans.