Examining Soil Erosion Responses to Grassland Conversation Policy in Three-River Headwaters, China

Soil erosion in the Three-River Headwaters (TRH) region has continued to intensify recent decades due human activities and climate change. To reverse this situation, Chinese central government launched Subsidy Incentive System for Grassland Conservation (SISGC). As a sign of effectiveness SISGC implementation, dynamic changes soil can provide timely feedback decision makers managers. The Revised Universal Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was used simulate spatial distribution before after Mann–Kendall (MK) test reveal effect policy implementation. results showed that: (1) TRH mainly mild (83.83% total eroded area), average rate were 13.63 t ha−1 y−1 323.58 × 106 respectively implementation; (2) implementation curbed erosion. After decreased by 3.80%, which obvious differences between grassland types; (3) influences because it increased vegetation cover, further decreasing However, Alpine deteriorated, indicating direct targeted policymaking should be on agenda. Furthermore, grassland-type-oriented restore ecosystem.