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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (6): 1157-1167.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.308

• Vegetation and Pedology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis on the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and driving forces of fractional vegetation coverage in the Ili River Valley, Xinjiang

WU Rui1,2(), SUN Huilan1,2(), YE Mao1,2, JIN Xiaoliang1,2, ZHOU Meiling1,2, YANG Han1,2, WU Fang1,2   

  1. 1 School of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
    2 Xinjiang Arid Area Lake Environment and Resources Laboratory, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-05-29 Revised:2025-07-02 Online:2026-06-25 Published:2026-06-29
  • Contact: SUN Huilan E-mail:107622023210570@stu.xjnu.edu.cn;huilsunxjnu@sina.com

Abstract:

The Ili River Valley is a critical ecological barrier in the arid and semi-arid regions of my country. Accordingly, understanding the spatiotemporal variations and driving mechanisms of fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) is vital for ecological restoration in this important valley in Xinjiang. This study uses remote sensing data and employs various analytical methods, including the binary cell model, Sen-Mann-Kendall trend test, center of gravity migration, and geodetector, to systematically examine the spatial and temporal evolution of vegetation in the Ili River Valley from 2001 to 2021. The findings reveal that (1) Over the past 21 years, vegetation in the Ili River Valley has shown a slow recovery trend, with a growth rate of 1.53×10−3·a−1; notably, significant increases in areas with medium to high FVC have been observed. (2) The spatial distribution of FVC in the Ili River Valley exhibits a pattern of “high in the east and low in the west”, with low-level, medium-level, and medium-level FVC showing a westward migration, whereas medium-level and high-level FVC migrate eastward. FVC in most areas of the Ili River Valley shows a degradation trend, whereas only a few areas show a recovery trend. (3) The spatiotemporal changes in FVC in the Ili River Valley are influenced by both natural factors and human activities. Key determinants of the spatial distribution of vegetation in the Ili River Valley include elevation, vegetation type, and landform type. Temperature and evaporation are pivotal in driving the changes in FVC over time and space. The interactions between any two factors are more significant than their individual effects, with the strongest influence observed in the interaction between temperature and evapotranspiration. This study provides a scientific foundation for ecological protection and restoration initiatives in the Ili River Valley.

Key words: fractional vegetation coverage, spatiotemporal variations, driver analysis, Ili River Valley