Abstract: In order to study the effects of different cutting bands on the species diversity and the growth of cypress trees in the pure cypress forest with 35~40 years old and poor natural regeneration in the hilly area of central Sichuan. In 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016,investigations were made on the species diversity of understory plants and annual growth of cypress trees. The data analysis showed that different cutting zones had different effects on the biodiversity index and stand growth of shrub and herbage layers. With the increase of years, the species diversity index of 8 m and 10 m wide shrubs was higher than that of other bandwidth, and significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05), but the diversity index of herbaceous species showed a gradual decrease relative to the shrub species diversity. Average annual growth of plant height and DBH of the reserved cypress were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The highest annual growth of 8 m and 10 m wide reserved cypress was found in the reserved cypress. For the five treatments, the suitable cutting bands for improving the plant diversity under the inefficient cypress plantation should have the width of 8 m and 10 m.