The natural water moisture and effective water holding capacity of coarse woody debris (CWD) in three typical forest ecosystems in Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve were studied. The results showed that the water holding capacity of CWD was lowest in the Crytomeria fortunei forest；the water holding capacity was in order as fallen tree＞snags＞stumps in Rhododendron simiarum forest, and snags＞fallen tree＞stumps in Tsuga longibracteata and Crytomeria fortunei forests. The effective water holding capacity of CWD increased with decay class of CWD increment，as well as the natural moisture content of CWD.