Abstract: Forest carbon cycle is one of the important items in the research of t errestrial carbon cycle, while carbon cycle model is an important means in study ing the carbon cycle mechanisms of forest ecosystem and in estimating carbon flu xes. Based on the sum-up of main carbon cycle models, this paper classified the forest carbon cycle models into two categories, i.e., patch scale forest car bon cycle models and regional scale terrestrial carbon cycle models, with their features commented. The future development trend in the research of forest carbo n cycle models in China was discussed.

Key words: evergreen broad-leaved forest, gap fraction, gap density, average gap area.