Rural outmigration generates a carbon sink in South China karst

Rural outmigration in South China Karst has been identified as a significant driver of increasing aboveground biomass, contributing to the generation of a carbon sink at a regional scale. Between 2005 and 2015, while the urban population increased by 8.3 million people, the rural population decreased by 4.8 million, leading to a notable reduction in rocky desertification areas. The study, utilizing local field and statistical data from 2000 to 2017, found an almost linear relationship between rural outmigration and biomass increase, with the highest aboveground biomass density increase (1.5 MgC ha −1 yr −1) observed in areas with the highest rural outmigration. This research challenges the conventional view that ecological conservation projects are the primary driver of increasing vegetation cover, highlighting instead the unintended positive environmental impacts of population movements.

Chang, J., Yue, Y., Tong, X., Brandt, M., Zhang, C., Zhang, X., Qi, X., & Wang, K. (2023). Rural outmigration generates a carbon sink in South China karst. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 47(5), 655–667. https://doi.org/10.1177/03091333231154177