[Objective] The relationship between land use change and ecological process in the ten tributaries area in Inner Mongolia was studied to reveal the relationship between human activities

land use

and ecological environment in order to provide a basis for the optimization of land use structure and regional ecological environment protection. [Methods] Landsat images from 2000 to 2020 were selected. Land use data and transfer matrices in different periods were obtained by using the method of supervised classification combined with a land statistical module. The dynamic change of land use and the comprehensive index of land use degree were analyzed. On this basis

the NDVI value

ecological environment quality index

and other indicators were selected by using mathematical statistics and other methods to comprehensively evaluate the ecological environment quality of the ten tributaries. [Results] ① During the 20 years of the study period

the proportion of forest land and grassland area changed the most

and the proportion of water area was the smallest

with frequent transitions between land use types

An obvious “upward trend” for forest land and an obvious “downward trend” for grassland and unused land were observed; ② The ecological environment quality indexes of the transformation of land use types in 2000

2010

and 2020 in the ten tributaries were 0.526 1

0.537 3 and 0.543 3

showing an overall upward trend. In terms of spatial distribution

the ecological environment quality was high in the east and low in the west

and high in the south and low in the north; ③ The annual average precipitation and annual average wind speed had significant positive impacts on the ecological environment quality. The annual average temperature had a significant negative impact on the ecological environment quality. [Conclusion] With the rapid development of urbanization occurring from 2000 to 2020

the ecological environment quality of the ten tributaries has also developed in a good direction. The ecological environment quality in the study area has improved overall and deteriorated locally. The transformation between construction land

forest land

grassland

and unused land is the main reason for changes in ecological environment quality. Environmental protection policies such as returning farmland to forest have continuously improved the environmental quality of the study area.