Plant species diversity of fragmented forests and their values for conservation and restoration

Forest fragmentation is the most important single factor leading to biodiversity loss. Besides fragment size, plant species diversity is also affected by edge effects, instantaneous sampling effects, relaxation effect, rescue effect by long-distance dispersal, and matrix etc. The paper reviewed the changes in species composition, abundance, characteristics of the fragmented forest. Many fragments deserve conservation, but proper evaluation and criteria are needed. Forest fragments also play roles in determining the aims of ecological restoration and serving as seed sources for restoration. Several methods were proposed for the conservation and management of fragmented forest.