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Influence of Natural Factors on Vegetation Sustainability in the Manas River Basin

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  • Xinyao He

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Hanxiao Li

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Shuxin Yu

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Yingqi Liu

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Lihong Wang

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Xiangqian Li

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Xiaohang Li

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Mengwen Peng

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Linlin Cui

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

  • Yin Ouyang

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
    Arid Region Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China)

Abstract

Understanding vegetation sustainability is crucial for ensuring ecological security in dryland interior river systems. Focusing on the Manas River Basin in Xinjiang, our research extracted Landsat time-series data from 2000 to 2024 via Google Earth Engine, employing statistical approaches alongside Geodetector modeling to quantitatively evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation sustainability and its influencing factors. Our findings reveal that the basin’s Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) displayed a significant upward trajectory (Sen’s slope = 0.010/yr, R 2 = 0.95, p < 0.01), with distinct temporal phases: the period 2000–2013 was characterized by rapid oasis expansion driven by cultivated land, while the period 2014–2024 was characterized by systematic vegetation improvement with a stabilizing land use pattern. Spatially, areas exhibiting extremely significant improvement accounted for 56.24% of the total basin area (concentrated mainly in artificial oases and the mid-mountain zone), and non-significant degradation accounted for only 1.89%. Land use type and soil texture were identified as the dominant spatial differentiation factors, followed by annual precipitation, with all pairwise factor interactions exhibiting enhancement effects. By identifying the optimal thresholds for vegetation growth (annual average temperature of 0.82–3.96 °C, elevation of 1826–2598 m, and loamy sand), this study defines the boundaries for sustainable vegetation development. These findings deliver a theoretical foundation for zonation management and habitat rehabilitation planning, supplying decision-making support for safeguarding regional ecological security and fostering sustainable development of oasis systems in arid Central Asia.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyao He & Hanxiao Li & Shuxin Yu & Yingqi Liu & Lihong Wang & Xiangqian Li & Xiaohang Li & Mengwen Peng & Linlin Cui & Yin Ouyang, 2026. "Influence of Natural Factors on Vegetation Sustainability in the Manas River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:13:p:6640-:d:1980151
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