[Objective] The relationship of the ecological environment and poverty was studied to provide scientific reference for the targeted poverty alleviation and sustainable development in ecologically fragile areas.[Methods] A typical ecologically fragile area

the Tibetan area in Sichuan Province

was taken as the study area. The coupling status of the ecological environment and poverty in the Sichuan Tibetan area was measured and analyzed by using a coupling degree model and coordination degree model from 2008 to 2017.[Results] ① The coupled development of the ecological environment and poverty in the Tibetan area was relatively stable at a low level from 2008 to 2017

and the coupling degree was mostly between 0.072 2 and 0.706 3. The variation trend of the coupling degree increased annually

but there were fluctuations in 2011. ② From 2008 to 2017

the ecological environment index of the Tibetan area showed an increasing trend annually

with a value between 0.009 5 and 1.000 0. The poverty index also showed an increasing trend annually

with a value between 0.006 3 and 0.995 4

but there was a fluctuation in 2011. ③ In addition to the fluctuation in 2011

the coupling coordination degree of the ecological environment and poverty in the Tibetan area increased annually from 2008 to 2017

and the value was between 0.035 9 and 0.839 4. The variation trends of coupling degrees and coordination degrees were similar from 2008 to 2017. ④ From 2008 to 2017

the coupling and coordination degree between the ecological environment and poverty of the Tibetan area had three different stages:low-level coupling development

coupling transition

and high-level coupling coordination of poverty lag.[Conclusion] In the future

ecological protection and poverty alleviation should be regarded as essential in the Tibetan area of Sichuan Province to achieve sustainable development of socio-economic and environment system in this ecologically fragile region.