The Retreat of the Human: Processes of Rewilding after Warfare in Sichuan, China

Decades of warfare during the Late Ming and Early Qing dynasties in Sichuan, China, led to a dramatic population decline, triggering significant environmental changes. The study reveals that the neglect and collapse of the Dujiangyan irrigation system, due to labor shortages, resulted in rewilding of agricultural landscapes. This process was further marked by a reversal in predator-prey dynamics, with tigers proliferating and becoming a common threat. Tiger attacks were interpreted as symbols of social failure, reflecting the tension between humans and their environment. The research highlights the intricate relationship between human activity and ecological systems, demonstrating how historical upheavals can reshape landscapes and species interactions.

Yuan, S., & Schmitt, E. (2023). The Retreat of the Human: Processes of Rewilding after Warfare in Sichuan, China. Environment and History, 29(1), 109–131. https://doi.org/10.3197/096734020x15900760737310