# Vegetation Dynamics and Recovery Potential in Arid and Semi-Arid Northwest China  
[PERSON]  
1 Joint Innovation Center for Modern Forestry Studies, College of Forestry and Grassland,  
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 1  
[PERSON]  
1 Joint Innovation Center for Modern Forestry Studies, College of Forestry and Grassland,  
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 1  
[PERSON]  
2 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 2  
[PERSON]  
1 Joint Innovation Center for Modern Forestry Studies, College of Forestry and Grassland,  
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 1  
[PERSON]  
1 Joint Innovation Center for Modern Forestry Studies, College of Forestry and Grassland,  
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 1  
[PERSON]  
1 Joint Innovation Center for Modern Forestry Studies, College of Forestry and Grassland,  
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] 1  
Footnote 1: [[https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants](https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants)]([https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants](https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants))  
limitation becomes especially evident when evaluating large-scale vegetation restoration efforts, necessitating the formulation of diverse indicators and corresponding weights for distinct regions [4; 5].The precision of research and evaluation models for vegetation restoration was hampered by issues related to spatial heterogeneity and the absence of critical data points [3]. Traditional global-based evaluation models encounter challenges when applied to entire study areas, often leading to limited quantitative measurements [6; 7; 8], and only through quantitative assessments can the realistic value of restoration potentials be discerned. Arid and semi-arid regions are highly sensitive to global climate change and are characterized by fragile ecosystems. Vegetation restoration in these areas is crucial not only for mitigating regional ecological degradation but also for contributing to global climate change mitigation, desertification control, and ecosystem recovery [9]. Vegetation restoration can offset some of the negative impacts of climate warming by increasing carbon sequestration, improving soil stability, and enhancing biodiversity [10]. As a typical arid and semi-arid region, the vegetation dynamics in northwest China directly influence the local ecological environment and socioeconomic development while also providing valuable references for similar environments globally [11]. In recent years, research on vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions has gained momentum worldwide. For instance, studies on Central Asia, North Africa, and Australia have shown that vegetation restoration can effectively control desertification and enhance land productivity [9; 12]. However, compared to these regions, northwest China exhibits unique climatic and geographical conditions, such as the combined effects of climate warming and humidification trends, complex terrain, and strong human intervention [13]. These factors make the processes and mechanisms of vegetation restoration in this region particularly distinctive [13; 14]. Therefore, in-depth research on vegetation restoration potential in northwest China is not only vital for the sustainable development of its regional ecosystems but also provides valuable insights for the restoration and management of other ecologically vulnerable areas around the globe. Concerning the quantitative measurement of vegetation restoration potential [15], its essence lies in depicting the optimal conditions for vegetation growth attainable within the prevailing natural constraints of a given region.