Ecosystem management originates from the traditional forest resources management and utilization,which is the result of thinking of the huge destruction of ecological environment by human beings on traditional economic development patterns and an urgent need for the sustainable development of human society.In this paper,the developmental process of ecosystem management is reviewed briefly and the definition for forest ecosystem management is posed.The goal of forest ecosystem management is also pointed out,which is to maintain ecosystem integrity,biodiversity,sustainability,health and productivity in order to gain an ideal state,expected products and services.Meanwhile,the connotation and essence of forest ecosystem management is analysed.It is pointed out that forest ecosystem management carries on and develops on the basis of traditional forest management and that the development from traditional forest management to forest ecosystem management is an inevitable trend.In addition,differences in such 4 aspects as goal,core theory,object and scale of management between forest ecosystem management and traditional forest management are analysed.The major problems existing in the forest ecosystem management are finally discussed.