Abstract: To understand the response of soil nematode communities to vegetation restoration, we surveyed soil nema-todes in a wasteland (Wj), a natural broad-leaved forest (Cc), a conifer-broadleaved mixed forest (Clc), and a coniferous forest (Pm) in northern Fujian from September 2003 to August 2004. A total of 142,005 nematode individuals were collected, belonging to two classes, four orders, 10 families and 24 genera. The results indicated that the number of soil nematode varied significantly (P<0.01) in response to different restoration stages of vegetation, ranking Wj > Cc > Clc > Pm. Nematode numbers also fluctuated with season. Both genera number and individual density ranked spring > winter > autumn > summer. Richness and DG indices ranked Cc >Wj > Clc > Pm, while Shannon-Wiener index Wj >Cc > Clc > Pm. Root biomass and soil physical and chemical characters were different at the four restoration stages. Nematode numbers were positively correlated with root biomass, soil water, soil porosity, organic matter, total N, and available P. We conclude that the dynamics of nematodes are an important biological indicator for vegetation restoration.