Abstract: The present conditions and existing problems in the standardization of long-term located observation of forest ecosystems, and the importance, principle, objective and the overall design of constructing the standard system for the long-term observation of forest ecosystems in China were expounded and the overall design was made in six aspects, i.e. construction of the forest ecosystem research stations, the operational management, the criteria system for long-term observation, observation methods, data management and data utilization. The overall design is very important both theoretically and practically for guiding the research and formulation of criteria system, for accelerating the standardization process of long-term observation of forest ecosystems, impelling the healthy and orderly development of forest ecosystem research stations and the network among them and promoting the ability in network research.