Based on the images in 1998 and 2005

the variations of quantity

inner structure

type

and spatial distribution feature of Shiyang River basin in seven years were analyzed by using RS and GIS and the driving forces of the land use/cover change(LUCC) were further discussed.Results indicated that during the seven years

the areas of grassland

Gobi

sandy land

woodland

dryland

and saline-alkaline land in Shiyang River basin were decreased and alpine

residential area and irrigable land were increased.The most significant increase is the irrigable land and its increased area is 89485.22hm2

which was mainly converted from woodland

saline-alkaline land

residential area

sandy land

and Gobi.The land use dynamic degrees of artificial woodland

saline-alkaline land

and irrigable land were 4.14%

3.48%

2.23% and 2.56%

respectively.The driving forces of the LUCC in Shiyang River basin were the economic development

the pressure of increasing population

and ecological policies.