Abstract:Landscape pattern metrics, as important means in landscape ecology, has resulted in the prosperity of landscape ecology. However, landscape pattern analysis was criticized recently for its poor correlation with ecological processes. In this paper, the current situation and challenges in landscape pattrn analysis was elaborated, and future of landscape pattern analysis was discussed. We believe landscape metrics are still the main method in spatial pattern analysis, and important for landscape ecology. However, three challenges are faced in landscape pattern analysis. How to develop new methods by integrating explicit ecological sense in landscape pattern analysis? How to link landscape pattern and ecological processes? How to apply the theory of “matrix-patch-corridor” in practice? In future, five areas are to be addressed, (1) to develop a methodology to describe landscape pattern from static to dynamic; (2) to explore the ecological sense of landscape pattern by using a series of landscape metrics; (3) to frame new landscape metrics by integrating an explicit ecological meanings; (4) to conduct landscape pattern analysis at multi-dimensions; (5) to explain the relationship between landscape pattern and ecological processes by multi-scale pattern analysis.