Synergy and regulation of the South China Karst WH site integrity protection and the buffer zone agroforestry development

Research on the South China Karst World Heritage site reveals a strong, positive synergy between heritage integrity protection and agroforestry development in buffer zones. The study, conducted across Shibing and Libo–Huanjiang karst sites from 2020 to 2023, used remote sensing, GIS analysis, and coupling coordination models to assess their interconnected relationship. Findings indicate that while agroforestry lags slightly behind heritage protection efforts, both are mutually influential and developing harmoniously. This suggests that balanced agroforestry practices can support rural livelihoods without compromising the site's outstanding universal value (OUV). The study proposes regulatory measures to enhance this synergy, offering a model for sustainable development in similar karst World Heritage areas.

Xiong, K., Chen, D., Zhang, J., Gu, X., & Zhang, N. (2023). Synergy and regulation of the South China Karst WH site integrity protection and the buffer zone agroforestry development. Heritage Science, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-023-01061-9