The Lesser Khingan Mountains in northeastern China and the farmers working at the foothills.
Photograph by Na Sa. The people depicted in these photographs have authorized the use of their image.

By Na Sa, Jinyu Zhao, Xuyang Kou, Shuanning Zheng, Zhaohua Lu, Jan Christoph Axmacher, and Weiguo Sang.

Read the full paper here.

Human societies and natural environment are interconnected in complex ways, forming social-ecological systems (SES). Understanding these connections is essential for sustainably managing both natural resources and human well-being, especially in a changing world. In the Songhua River Basin, northeastern China, large-scale ecological restoration efforts have operated for years to address ecological issues, such as deforestation, soil erosion, and wetland loss. These programs have significantly reshaped how local people interact with the land, affecting individual livelihoods as well as the broader local economy.

Given the way restoration programs have changed local communities, we explored the SES transformations by examining how the relationship between people and nature evolved from 2000 to 2020. Our research used a novel framework combining archetype analysis, network methods, and catastrophe theory to capture these complex dynamics. We found notable changes at the interface between mountain areas and agricultural plains. Many agricultural regions transitioned toward urban lifestyles, diversified green developments, or unique, sustainable practices rooted in local culture. Simultaneously, regions initially dominated by natural landscapes improved their ecological health even further under the influence of large-scale ecological preservation and restoration policies. However, a growing ageing population and economic decline have come with that.

Our study shows that trade-offs and synergies between social and ecological elements vary across archetypes, emphasizing the need for place-based sustainable development policies. We also found that places with strong human-nature interactions and areas that maintain extensive natural landscapes show greater resilience and sustainability, demonstrating the positive impact of years of ecological conservation and restoration efforts.

These findings remind us that ecological restoration is an ongoing process that requires continuous adaptation to local needs and evolving challenges. As restoration projects in China enter new stages, there is a growing need for adaptive governance approaches that integrate social and natural systems, balance resource trade-offs, and foster long-term, sustainable outcomes for both people and nature.