Abstract:In this study, the ecosystem health (CEH) for the metropolitan area of Ningbo was assessed on three scales, i.e. metropolitan area, counties/districts and ecosystems. In making the assessment, Ningbo metropolitan area was divided into six types of ecosystem: urban, forest, river, cropland, lake/reservoir and coastal ecosystems. An assessment of ecosystem health was established on the basis of 56 selected indicators which covered economic, environmental and ecological information. The status of ecosystem health on multiple scales was assessed by an indexing method of CEH. The results showed that: (1) The CEH of Ningbo municipality area was sub healthy status; (2) The CEHs of Cixi District, Xiangshan County and Zhenhai District were sub healthy status and approaching a cause for alarm; The CEHs of Ningbo metropolitan districts including Haishu, Jiangdong and Jiangbei districts, Beilun District, Yuyao District，Yinzhou District, Fenghua District and Ninghai County were in a fairly healthy status; (3) On the scale of metropolitan area, the CEH status was mainly influenced by the coast, river and cropland ecosystems; On the scale of counties/districts, the CEH status was mainly influenced by Cixi, Zhenhai and Xiangshan; On the scale of ecosystems, the key impact indicators were coastal primary production, integrated pollution index of sea water, water quality of river and cropland production. According to the assessment results, attention should be paid to regulation measures and development policies related to the cropland, river and coastal ecosystems. The CEH assessment method on multiple scales used in this study provides a useful tool to assess the status of ecosystem health at different scales. It can be used by departments of administration and management to help, identify the main impacting indicators to allow a sound decision\|making for the management and planning of regional environment.