Estimation of China’s Contribution to Global Greening over the Past Three Decades

China’s contribution to global greening is regulated by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, climate change, and land use. Based on TRENDY project data, this study identified that the shifts in leaf area index (LAI) trend strongly reduced during warming hiatus, translating from 13.42 ± 26.45% 1982–1998 into 7.91 25.45% 1999–2012. First, significant negative sensitivities of LAI enhanced vapor pressure deficit (VPD), when only considering effect derived models China, were found have shifted substantially after late 1990s. However, globally, had positive rather than responses VPD. These opposing response VPD national vegetation greening. Second, land-use change their effects trends two periods China accompanied major changes cover management intensity, including forestry. Consequently, use −47.68% hiatus period, as compared with period. Such a shift impact simulated ecosystem might result models’ lack consideration conserving expanding forests goal mitigating for China. Our results highlight need reproduce consider man-made adaptation policies (e.g., forest management) improve terrestrial future.