Agricultural Development Has Not Necessarily Caused Forest Cover Decline In Semi-arid Northern China Over The Past 12,000 Years

This study examined the evolution of forest cover in northern China from 8000 to 2000 cal yr BP. It was found that forest cover increased during the early Holocene to the mid-Holocene in northern China and decreased after the mid-Holocene both in the marginal agricultural region and core agricultural region. Human activities showed an enhanced influence on forest cover from 8000 to 2000 cal yr BP, with strong agricultural activities in northern China, but this influence was limited to the core agricultural region. Climate but not human activity determined the evolution of forest cover in the marginal agricultural region.