Abstract: Amount of storage, annual increment and decomposition of coarse woody debris (CDW)were examined in a 76-year old Castanopsis eyrei forest of wuyi Mountains. A comparative analysis of CWD storage in an age sequence of C. eyrei stands was carried out and its role in nutrient cycling in the ecosystem was initially estimated. Amount of CWD storage, annual increment and decomposition were 7.349%, 1.425 and 0.512 tons·hm-2·a-1, respectively. As the age of C. eyrei forest increased, CWD storage increased initially, arrived at the climax gradually at the age of 58 years, and declined then. CWD is a relatively important components of C. eyrei forest ecosystem. It contributed to 0.09%～1.91% of total nutrient storage in the total biomass of the ecosystem. About 1.94%～4.84% of total returns of nutrient element was through this route.