Based on the land use change data obtained from TM images in 1997 and 2006

the land use/cover changes on the Loess Plateau of North Shaanxi Province were studied and ecological effects of land use/cover changes were evaluated with the help of RS and GIS technologies. Results showed that land use patterns changed considerably during the period from 1997 to 2006. 50.37% of farmland was transferred into woodland and grassland and the total ecosystem service value was increased by 7.67×106 yuan

with the annual increase of 0.2%. The overall environmental quality index was increased from 0.145 to 0.157. The index of eco-contribution of land use and land cover changed remarkably and the overall eco-contribution index was 1.239. The environmental ecological quality has been improved

which means that the ecosystem in the area tends to develop healthily on the Loess Plateau of North Shaanxi Province with the development of the conversion of farmland to forest project.