Wireless　mesh　networks　(WMNs)　are　wireless　access　networks　based　on　IP　technologies,　which　combine　the　advantages　of　WLANs　and　ad　hoc　networks　and　have　thus　become　broadband　access　networks　with　high　capacity,　high　speed　and　wide　coverage.　Due　to　the　multi-hop　characteristics　of　WMNs,　security　has　become　a　critical　issue　in　WMNs　and　a　simple　and　effective　distributed　key　management　is　essential　for　the　development　of　secure　WMNs.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　distributed　key　management　scheme　in　WMNs　by　combing　several　key　technologies,　such　as　ECC,　(t,　n)　threshold　cryptography,　verifiable　secret　sharing,　etc.　Based　on　a　zone-based　hierarchical　model,　our　proposed　key　management　scheme　is　comprised　of　two　parts:　group　key　management　in　the　backbone　network　and　session　key　establishment　in　the　zone　networks.　We　also　show　the　security　and　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　scheme　through　analysis　and　simulations.