Recovered forests and degraded grassland in Western China.

A: Zhangjiatang, a village in Shuangyang Township. Latitude and longitude: 31°28.621′N, 109°49.835′E. Elevation: 1070 m. Note the steep mountain slope with sparse vegetation and a large area of farmland without crops in the historical photo. After 100 years, the landscape was fully covered by dense forests with a scattering farmland under the implementation of the “the Grain to Green Program”. B: Near Dakuiyong Village of Donggu Township. Latitude and longitude: 30°27.340′N, 101°46.824′E. Elevation: 3918 m. Note the landscape with forest and grassland in Danba in the historical photo. The forest had not changed very much, while the grassland had degraded because of overgrazing. Grass height decreased significantly and there was an obvious reduction in Alexander Rhubarb (Rheum alexandrae).