Abstract:

The ecological potential power of a vegetation pattern reflects the ecological integrated power of one area.Therefore，the study on ecological potential power of the vegetation pattern can offer references for ecological protection.The Jinsha River Watershed is one fragile area in the Chinese western region.The Jinsha River Watershed in Yunnan Province was selected for study of its ecological potential power.First，on the basis of ecological potential power criterion，which was established according to different classes of vegetation，the ecological potential power of different plants was recorded.Second，TM remote sensing data of 2006 and 1996 was used to make vegetation classified plot in the watershed.On the basis of this vegetation classifying plot，the ecological potential power chart was also plotted with ArcGIS software.From the chart，the middle and west region of the study area were showed to be poorer about its ecological potential power.Furthermore，the area change of different vegetation was also calculated during recent 10 years；and ecological potential power change was calculated too.The ecological potential power changed mostly in the middle and west of Jinsha River Watershed in Yunnan Province，and this is consistent with its population distribution，because population is most dense in these areas.As a result of this study，the vegetation ecological function and values，and the trend of vegetation change in the watershed were better illustrated.Moreover，the study result offered evidence for vegetation restoration of Jinsha River Watershed in Yunnan Province.

Key words: Jinsha River Watershed, ecological potential power, change trend