Application of ecological restoration technologies for low-carbon and sustainable landslide management: a case study of the Xishan landslide

Abstract Landslide disasters on the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau pose severe threats to safety and the environment. Traditional "gray engineering" relies heavily on energy-intensive cement and steel, leading to high carbon emissions that conflict with global carbon neutrality goals. This paper explores a low-carbon, sustainable management model for the Xishan Landslide in Tongren City. A phased strategy was implemented, integrating necessary engineering measures with a novel ecological restoration technology utilizing modified glutinous rice-based materials (MGRM). As a natural organic material, MGRM serves as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional high-carbon cementitious materials, significantly reducing carbon emissions during slope stabilization. The management effects were evaluated using real-time monitoring and Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) analysis. Results indicate the landslide has transitioned to a stable state, with surface displacement velocities maintained below 0.1 mm/d. Furthermore, the regional RSEI increased significantly from 2021 to 2025, revealing a benign trajectory of "engineering stabilization–vegetation recovery–carbon sequestration function." This study validates the efficacy of the " engineering + ecology " model, providing a sustainable reference for achieving carbon–neutral geological disaster mitigation in ecologically fragile alpine regions.