[Objective] The importance of soil and water conservation was evaluated as a means to provided a scientific basis for ecological protection via red line delimitation in Fujian Province.[Methods] The soil conservation modulus in Fujian Province was estimated and classified using GIS technology and the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) along with data such as precipitation

soil

digital elevation

and vegetation index.[Results] The total amount of soil conservation in Fujian Province was estimated to be 2.65×109 t/a

and the average soil conservation modulus was 20 789.82 t/(km2·a). The soil and water conservation functional areas in Fujian Province were classified into five types: extremely important

highly important

medium importance

relatively important

and generally important. These corresponded to areas of 3 192.54

8 205.54

15 547.71

21 519.81

and 74 000.20 km2

respectively

which represent 2.61%

6.70%

12.70%

17.57%

and 60.42% of the total area of the province

respectively.[Conclusion] The extremely important areas

highly important areas

and areas of medium importance with respect to the need for soil and water conservation are mainly distributed in two mountain zones of the Western and Central Fujian Province and the surrounding hilly areas.