Objective  This paper aims to optimize the spatial structure of stand, improve the quality of existing forests and protect the habitat of wild animals, so as to provide a theoretical basis for forest management in Maoershan Mountain of northeastern China.

  Method  Taking Maoershan Mountain Forest Farm as the study area, according to the four spatial structure indices of complete mingling, uniform angle index, competition index, stand layer index and habitat suitability index, a comprehensive spatial structure model was constructed by the idea of multiplication and division. The habitat suitability index was calculated based on the 2016 survey data of the Maoershan Mountain. Taking the great spotted woodpecker as an example, we used the R to compile the stand optimization simulation, compared the changes of stand structure and habitat suitability index under the different thinning intensities, and analyzed the feasibility of integrating the habitat suitability index into the optimization model.

  Result  Compared the changes of each index and optimization function Q-value under different tending intensities (10%, 20% and 30%, respectively), the optimal tending intensity was 20%, the maximum Q-value was 73.28, the average Q-value was 49.59, the canopy density was 0.62 and the cutting trees were mainly located in dense forest areas with a total of 133 trees. After stand optimization, the complete mingling and stand layer index increased, the competition index decreased, the uniform angle index ranged in 0.475, 0.517, which was in a randomly distributed state; and the habitat suitability index increased to 0.57.

  Conclusion  It shows that this optimization simulation optimizes the spatial structure of the stand while improves the habitat suitability index. The conclusion of this study can provide a scientific basis for optimization of the spatial structure and protection for the living environment of wild animals.