Vegetation degradation in high-altitude wet meadows affects soil carbon and enzyme activities. A study in a Tibetan wet meadow showed that as vegetation degradation increased, the amount of soil organic carbon and labile carbon fractions decreased, especially in the topsoil layers. This decrease was due to less carbon input and increased decomposition. Soil moisture was found to be the main factor influencing soil carbon and enzyme activities. Overall, heavily degraded vegetation can change the distribution of carbon in the soil.