[Objective] To analyze the land use and landscape pattern evolution of Hongjiannao region in the past 25 years and to provide basic data and scientific basis for the protection of ecological environment

green mining of Northwest China and environmental management of desert lake.[Methods] Remote sensing images

i. e.

TM in 1990

ETM+ in 2000

TM in 2005

TM in 2010 and OLI in 2015 were used as data source. Quantitative method of remote sensing and geographic information system technology and mathematical statistical analysis were used to illustrate the land use/land cover dynamic change and landscape pattern evolution characteristics.[Results] From 1990 to 2015

the cultivated land and sandy land area of Hongjiannao region increased by 3.56% and 21.87%; Grassland and water area were reduced by 23.85% and 2.25%

respectively. The water and vegetation shrank greatly

forest and grassland were mainly converted to sandy land and cultivated land. The landscape indexes like average patch area

total number of patch

patch shape index and diversity index all increased; Landscape fragmentation enlarged and landscape types increased.[Conclusion] In the upper reaches of lake

the construction of reservoirs and the exploitation of surface water

the application of returning farmland to forest and grassland

are the main driving influences of landscape pattern changes in Hongjiannao region.