Effects of Emergent Water Project on vegetation coverage in the lower reaches of Tarim River.
应急输水工程对塔里木河下游地区植被覆盖度的影响

Based on the TM in 1999, ETM in 2000, ASTER in 2004, and the background data of the lower reaches of Tarim River, the dynamic changes of vegetation coverage and land desertification before and after the implementation of Emergent Water Project were studied. The results showed that with the implementation of the Project, the areas with medium and higher vegetation coverage increased from 7,447.16 hm2 and 17,146.80 hm2 in 1999 to 9,129.16 hm2 and 26,236.61 hm2 in 2004, and those with lower and poor vegetation coverage decreased by 9,989.10 hm2 and 782.71 hm2, respectively. In 1990-2004, the total area of desertification decreased from 506,258.06 hm2 to 498,043.93 hm2, and the ecological environment in parts of the desertification area tended to be improved, indicating that the Emergent Water Project played an important role in improving the ecological environment in the lower reaches of Tarim River.