Remote Sensing Evaluation of Vegetation Restoration and Analysis of Driving Factors of Vegetation Change in the Desert Section of Hotan River

【Objective】 To explore the vegetation changes of Hotan River desert section since the ecological water transport, evaluate the governance effect in the desert section, determine the driving factors of vegetation changes in the hope of providing guidance for the ecological restoration of Hotan River desert section. 【Method】 The NDVI values of vegetation response characteristics since ecological water diversion in the desert section of Hotan River were systematically studied by using the impact data of satellite remote sensing and field investigation data. 【Result】 Since the ecological water conveyance in 2002, the NDVI value of Hotan River desert section increased as a whole, with an average increase of 37.24%. The ecological water diversion had a significant effect on the vegetation within the range of 1~2.75 km, and the NDVI value increased first, then decreased, and finally increased. The vegetation in the whole desert section was good in the upper and lower reaches, but weak in the middle section. The area with fragile vegetation was located 15 ~115 km downstream of the confluence of the two rivers. There was a positive correlation between NDVI value and temperature and water consumption in the desert section. 【Conclusion】 The ecological water conveyance of Hotan River promotes the restoration of ecological vegetation on both banks of the river, and the trend of vegetation improvement is obvious. The change of NDVI value in desert section is closely related to temperature and water consumption in river reach. The increase of temperature and water consumption（ecological water diversion） in the upper and lower reaches of the desert section is conducive to the vegetation improvement in the River.