Impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the normalized difference vegetation index of desertified areas in northern China

Vegetation plays a key role in maintaining ecosystem stability, promoting biodiversity conservation, serving as windbreaks, and facilitating sand fixation in deserts. Based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (MODIS NDVI) and climate data, a Theil—Sen median trend analysis combined with the Mann—Kendall test and partial correlation and residual analyses were employed to explore spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation dynamics and key drivers in the Badain Jaran and Tengger deserts and Mu Us Sandy Land. Data were collected during the growing season between 2001 and 2020. Further analyses quantified the relative contribution of climate variation and anthropogenic activities to NDVI changes. Results revealed a predominantly increasing trend for average NDVI. The spread of average annual NDVI and growth trends of the vegetation were determined to be influenced by spatial differences. The area with improved vegetation was greater than that of the degraded region. Climate variability and human activities were driving forces controlling vegetation cover changes, and their effects on vegetation dynamics varied by region. The response of vegetation dynamics was stronger for precipitation than temperature, indicating that precipitation was the main climate variable influencing the NDVI changes. The relative role of human activities was responsible for > 70% of the changes, demonstrating that human activities were the main driving factor of the NDVI changes. The implementation of ecological engineering is a key driver of increased vegetation coverage and has improved regional environmental quality. These results enhance our knowledge regarding NDVI change affected by climate variation and human activities and can provide future theoretical guidance for ecological restoration in arid areas.