Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was the primary active carbon pool in forest ecos ystems and played an important role in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phos phorus, in soil formation and in the transport of pollutants. The aim of this re view was to summarize the origin, property and flux of dissolved organic matter in forest ecosystems. Recent studies showed that litter and humus were the most important DOM sources in forest ecosystems. The soil microbe was also considered as a potential, i mporta...