Karst rocky desertification is a growing problem in southwest China, which has seriously threatened the ecological and environmental security, the people’s livelihood and even the social development in the region. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of karst rocky desertification, including the concept of karst rocky desertification, the types, criteria and causes of desertification, and so on. Meanwhile, this paper summarizes the research trends of soil and water loss in karst area and expounds the relationship between rocky desertification and soil erosion, and highlights the existing problems and shortcomings in the current research on underground soil and water loss in karst area. And then according to the current research hot spots and shortcomings of the prospects, the research focus of next stage is proposed, i.e., to re-establish the type of rocky desertification standards based on the current work. Through the innovation of research methods and technical, the karst groundwater erosion mechanism and quantitative research would be promoted. And paying more attention to the problem of groundwater pollution in karst slope land, the scientific and effective measures for preventing and controlling surface loss and underground leakage are to be developed.