From the viewpoint of tediousness and professionalism of forest fuel load investigation,a stratified sampling system for the plot survey of forest fuel loads at national and provincial scale were developed based on five commonly used indicators,namely vegetation area,tree species,stand origin,age group and canopy density.Within each specific plot,the fuel loads of tree-layer can be estimated by using the data of individual tree survey combined with the algometric biomass model or the biomass expansion factor,while fuel loads of shrub-,herb-,litter- and humus-layer should be jointly estimated by the quadrat survey and the data of sample moisture content.This method has important guidance and reference significance for the survey and estimation of forest fuel loads at national or regional scale.