A quantitative method to assess the ecological indicator system's effectiveness: a case study of the Ecological Province Construction Indicators of China

- A quantitative method is developed to assess the effectiveness of an ecological indicator system (EIS).
- Linkage, coverage and representation degrees were applied to compare a practical EIS with the ideal one.
- Case study on the Ecological Province Construction Indicators (EPCI) proved that our conceptual method is useful to assess the effectiveness of a practical EIS.
- The EPCI indicator system has a high degree of linkage and coverage but biased representation in Fujian province.