Fig. 1. Location of the study area Note: Numbers 1 to 6 represent Dongmei, Caixia, Guzhou, Sancai, Hanwen, and Renhe small watersheds, respectively. The rocky desertification control project (referred to as RDCP) and the status of rocky desertification in all of the small watersheds were organized according to the “Huanjiang County Rock Desertification Comprehensive Management and Construction Project” and related implementation plans during 2008-2010. Due to the lag of the effect of project implementation, the RDCP activity during 2011-2013 was not considered in this study.

Fig. 2. Land use classification and mapping in Huanjiang County in (a) 2008 and (b) 2013

Fig. 3. NPP changes in Huanjiang County during 2008-2013. (a) Distribution of NPP values in the county, (b) Distribution of NPP values in non-rocky desertification area (NRDL) and the potential rocky desertification or rocky desertification land (P/RDL); (c) Distribution and (d) spatial pattern of the NPP change index (K). Red dots are the averages.

Fig. 4. Spatial patterns of effects of (a) LUCC, (b) ECF and (c) their interaction on NPP, and (d) statistics for the total effect of factors on the |K|≥0.21 (i.e. the third quantile of the NPP change index) area.

Fig. 5. Spatial distribution of (a) RDCP (see Fig. 1) and (b-g) vegetation restoration measures (referred to as VRM; i.e. closing hills for afforestation, artificial afforestation, and artificial grass) in each of the six small watersheds

Fig. 6. The relative contributions of LUCC, ECF change and their interaction on NPP changes in the region with obviously changed NPP, i.e. the third quantile of the NPP change index (|K|≥0.21 during 2008-2013; |K|≥0.23 during 2005-2011).