From Vulnerability to Sustainability: the Evolution of Rural Social-ecological System in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwest China

Understanding the evolution of the social-ecological system (SES) in Southwest China's karst mountain areas (KMA) is important to sustainable development. Current research still has certain shortcomings in analyzing rural SES's evolution and sustainable development path in ecologically fragile areas. This study constructs a framework for the evolution of SES to reveal the evolution characteristics of this evolutionary process and summarizes typical sustainable development models for rural areas in KMA. The results show that: (1) Land use transition in KMA has significantly improved vegetation cover and socioeconomic conditions, demonstrating strong coupling between social system and ecosystem. (2) The SES shifted from an imbalanced to a coordinated state, progressing through inefficient development, transitional restructuring, and sustainable development stages. (3) The sustainable development models of rural SES are influenced by natural environments, socioeconomic conditions, and policies, with effective policy guidance particularly crucial for socio-ecological development. This study systematically summarizes the evolution of SES in KMA, providing insights into regional development strategies. The framework and cases offer references for rural revitalization and ecological development in similar regions worldwide.