Abstract: The red soil region of subtropics is one of the most densely populated areas in China in which natural ecosystem has been heavily destructed and degraded due to ecological weakness and climatic characteristics. The research of ecosystem degradation, restoration and reconstruction in these regions has became one of the hot points in soil science, water and soil conservation science and ecology. The research has concentrated on the following: ①The research on causes, process and mechanism of land degradation and evaluation of degradation features. Meanwhile, the evaluation has changed from a single aspect such as vegetation and soil to a comprehensive evaluation including deterioration of environment and degradation of soil morphology and fertility. ②Studies on a theoretical basis and basic principle for restoration and reconstructions. ③The study on benefits and functions of a restorated ecosystem. The method of system engineering has been used to comprehensively evaluate the benefit and function instead of evaluation in terms of a single aspect e. g. biodiversity, function of water and soil conservation, fertility of soil or micro-climate. ④Studies on practice of restoration and reconstruction for different degradation types in different areas.