Abstract: The Mabian River Basin is a significant area for forest distribution in the history of Southwest China. The changes in forest cover within the basin are closely linked to the bureaucratization of native officials. This paper, based on a review and analysis of historical documents, outlines the process of forest change in the Mabian River Basin since the Ming Dynasty and reveals the intrinsic connection between these changes and the bureaucratization of native officials. The study demonstrates that the process of forest change in the Mabian River Basin exhibits notable patterns of repetition. When the bureaucratization of native officials proceeded smoothly and military and political management was strengthened, the basin experienced a diversified development model led by agriculture, resulting in significant deforestation. Conversely, when the bureaucratization of native officials faced obstacles and military and political management weakened, the agriculture, forestry, and mining sectors stagnated, allowing forest cover in the Mabian River Basin to gradually recover. The dynamic, three-dimensional changes in forest cover also reflect the complexities of borderland governance in Southwest China.