Abstract: In this paper, Landsat TM of 1998, Landsat ETM⁺ of 2003 and IRS-P6 of 2007 satellite data were used as the information source and the linear relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)utilized for obtaining the photosynthesis effective radiation situation and studying the dynamics of forest stands in Guangzhou City. The results showed that in the course of rapid economic development for a decade the Guangzhou forest stand PAR increased year by year from 1998 to 2003, especially in broadleaf forests increased faster, while that of the coniferous forest maintained a more stable state, which suggested a higher forest productivity. From 2003 to 2007, in 4 districts of Guangzhou City, forest stand FPAR significantly weakened. In 2007, in Panyu District and the city urban area, the forest stand photosynthetically active radiation rate (FPAR) was small. This showed that the urbanization process of Guangzhou City was accelerating and the impacts of human activities were increasingly apparent.

Key words: remote sensing, stand PAR, NDVI