This article reports on the relationship between the prevention and control of rocky desertification and potential change to soil organic carbon storage (SOC) in Guizhou Province, in Southwestern China Three strategic measures including the return of cultivated land to forestlands (RCLF), construction of artificial pasture (CAP) and artificial afforestation (AA) will be employed and more than approximately 20,923.22 km(2) lands will be improved in Guizhou Province. The SOC density of these areas will change significantly at different calculated depths. At calculated depths of 0.00-0.10 m, 0.00-0.20 m, 0.00-0.0.30 m and 0.00-1.00 m, the total SOC sequestration will reach up to 1.99 x 10(13) g, 3.37 x 10(13) g, 4.45 x 10(13) g and 6.29 x 10(13) g, respectively, over the next several decades In the 0.00-1.00 m soil horizon, the potential increase in SOC storage related to rocky desertification prevention and the control project would reach 3.19% of the total present SOC storage in Guizhou province.