Social-ecological heterogeneity drove contrasting tree cover restoration in South China Karst

Social-ecological heterogeneity significantly influences tree cover restoration in the South China Karst, the world's largest continuous karst zone. The study found that only 33.67% of the area (652,457 km²) experienced increased tree cover, highlighting the challenges posed by carbonate geological constraints and the need to recognize synergies within social-ecological systems. Rural population decline in undeveloped areas was identified as a key driver for restoration. Additionally, the correlation degree of social-ecological networks was lower in karst areas compared to non-karst areas, indicating higher heterogeneity in these systems. These findings underscore the importance of shifting focus from natural ecosystems to coupled social-ecological systems for sustainable forest management.

Hu, T., Peng, J., Qiu, S., Dong, J., Hu, Y., Lin, Y., & Xia, P. (2024). Social-ecological heterogeneity drove contrasting tree cover restoration in South China Karst. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01641-y