In order to monitor the dynamic variation of vegetation in Qinghai Province

based on the MODIS-NDVI data from 2000 to 2009

characteristics of spatial and temporal variation were analyzed using statistical methods such as linear trend analysis and standard deviation. Results show that:(1) From 2000 to 2009

vegetation of the study area was improved progressively

with a linear tendency of 0.018/10 a which was faster than the growth rate of the Three North Shelter Forest Program(0.007/10 a) from 1982 to 2006. (2) Vegetation restoration experienced several stages

a rapid increase in vegetation coverage during the first five years of "Grain-for-Green" project and a significantly fluctuated decline after 2005. (3) Slight improvement(32.66%) accounted for the largest proportion of vegetation restoration

followed by moderate improvement(13.32%)

and the significant improvement area was mainly distributed in the southeast edge of the Qaidam Basin

Qinghai Lake basin

Chaka-Gonghe basin

Hehuang Valley and the south Yellow River lowland. (4) The proportion of degradation tendency was 18.40%

which was distributed in the three rivers headwater and the eastern section of the Qilian Mountain. (5) Vegetation stability manifested significant regional difference

which was low in southeast and temperate zones

but high in northwest

frigid and sub-frigid zones. The changing magnitude was most obvious in the low mountains

hills and basins in eastern Qinghai Province.