| The crustal movement of Kang-Dian block has been extraordinarily active since the Tertiary, resulting in the formation of the karst graben basin. Due to the dramatic changes of the “basin-mountain” topography in this area, the climate shows tremendous contrasts. Simultaneously, the control of the southwest monsoon leads to the dry season twice as much as the rainy season in this region, and the uneven distribution of water resources in both spatial and temporal aspects. Moreover, soil flow/leakage is serious and vegetation site conditions are poor. Then, rocky desertification here cannot be easily controlled. During 2016 to 2020, “Evolution of Rocky Desertification in the Karst Graben Basin and Comprehensive Treatment Technology and Demonstration” under the support of the national key research and development program was implemented in this region, which provided us an approach to better understand karst critical zone and ecological geological characteristics. Under the substantial support of Acta Geoscientica Sinica, 15 articles, which embrace four aspects of “water resources, water and soil erosion, ecological geology, and ecological services”, form the special issue of “Critical Zone and Eco Geological Environment in the Karst Graben Basin”. Though this special issue does not include the entire content of the special project, it provides a paramount significant reference value to understand the geology, climate, hydrology, ecology, and ecological service functions in the karst graben basin. |