# Vegetation Dynamics and Recovery Potential in Arid and Semi-Arid Northwest China
## 5 Conclusions  
In this study, we selected the normalized vegetation index based on remote sensing images from the AVHRR from 1982 to 2019 in northwest China; explored the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of vegetation in the study area; and predicted the potential for vegetation restoration in northwest China using the similar habitat method. The main conclusions were as follows:  
1. The vegetation cover in northwest China has shown a significant increase from 1982 to 2019, with notable concentrations in northeastern Inner Mongolia, northwestern Xinjiang, eastern and southern Qinghai, and southern Gansu. However, vast areas in central northwest China remain bare or covered with desert soil. The spread of vegetation into surrounding areas, attributed to increased precipitation resulting from the warming and humidification trend in northwest China, has contributed to an expansion of vegetation cover in the region.
2. The peak of vegetation cover in northwest China is significantly affected by climate warming and the trend of increasing humidity, and the vegetation recovery potential in northwest China is decreasing due to climate warming and increasing humidity. The overall vegetation recovery potential in northwest China is still limited, and the average value of the vegetation recovery potential index of northwest China obtained from the remote sensing data is 0.31, and there is still a 2.3% room for improvement in vegetation cover in this region.
3. The average value of the vegetation recovery potential index in northwest China obtained from the LPJ model data is 0.14, and there is a 1.1% room for improvement in vegetation cover in this region. The potential for vegetation recovery is higher in central and western Inner Mongolia, northwestern Qinghai, and parts of Xinjiang, while other areas, especially in the east and south, have less potential for vegetation recovery because the level of vegetation cover is already high.  
In summary, these research results will provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration, desertification control, and land management planning in northwest China, offering valuable insights for future climate adaptation strategies and policy formulation.  
X.S.: data curation, writing--original draft preparation. Z.Z. and B.Z.: conceptualization, methodology. Q.X. and G.L.: software, investigation. H.T.: supervision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (Project number KYCX24_1258; Project number KYCX23_1228); Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).  
Data Availability Statement: Data are contained within the article.  
Acknowledgements. Acknowledgement for the data support from China Meteorological Data Service Centre ([[http://data.cma.cn/en](http://data.cma.cn/en)]([http://data.cma.cn/en](http://data.cma.cn/en)), accessed on 31 January 2020). In addition, we sincerely thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions to improve the quality of this paper.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.