八步沙区域地处青藏高原生态屏障与北方防沙带的交汇地带，是抵御腾格里沙漠南侵的前沿阵地，评估其生态环境质量的变化对评价区域防沙治沙成效、推进“三北”工程攻坚战具有一定指导意义。本研究基于Google Earth Engine（GEE）平台数据，探讨1986—2021年八步沙区域土地利用格局变化趋势，利用归一化植被指数（NDVI）、沙漠化指数（DI）和遥感生态指数（RSEI）对区域生态环境质量的时空变化进行综合评估。 结果表明：（1） 在时间尺度上，八步沙区域荒漠面积持续减少、草地面积持续增加、植被覆盖度增加。1986—2021年NDVI和RSEI呈波动上升趋势，其中NDVI由0.14上升至0.31，增长幅度达1倍以上；RSEI由0.22上升至0.24，增幅为9.39%；DI呈波动下降趋势，由0.79递减至0.57，累计降幅达27.85%。（2） 在空间尺度上，NDVI和RSEI高值区集中在研究区南部及西北部且以林地和耕地为主，低值区分布在研究区北部且以极低覆盖度植被和荒漠为主。（3） 研究区NDVI和RSEI趋势变化以不显著/显著增加为主，DI以不显著减少为主。其中，NDVI不显著、显著增加区域占比达12.12%、61.10%；RSEI不显著、显著增加区域占比达5.06%、38.63%，生态环境质量改善区域集中在人类活动较多的西北部和东南部。1986—2021年八步沙区域植被覆盖度明显提高，生态环境质量持续改善，防沙治沙成效显著，形成了可复制的八步沙模式。

Located in the convergence zone of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Ecological Barrier and the Northern Sand Control Belt, the Babusha region acts as a frontline defense against the southward encroachment of the Tengger Desert. Assessing changes in the ecological environment quality in the Babusha region holds significant value for evaluating the effectiveness of regional desertification control and advancing the Three-North Shelterbelt Development Program. This study used data from the Google Earth Engine platform to investigate land use pattern changes in the Babusha region from 1986 to 2021. A comprehensive assessment of the spatiotemporal changes in the regional ecological environment quality was conducted using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), desertification index (DI), and remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The results were as follows: (1) Over time, the desert area in the Babusha region has continued to decrease, the grassland area has progressively increased, and the vegetation coverage has improved. From 1986 to 2021, NDVI and RSEI showed a fluctuating upward trend, with NDVI increasing from 0.14 to 0.31 (>50% increase) and RSEI increasing from 0.22 to 0.24 (9.39% increase). In contrast, DI exhibited a fluctuating downward trend, decreasing from 0.79 to 0.57 with a cumulative reduction of 27.85%. (2) Areas with high NDVI and RSEI values were concentrated in the southern and northwestern parts of the study region, dominated by woodland and cultivated land, whereas areas with low NDVI and RSEI values were distributed in the northern region characterized by extremely low vegetation coverage and desert. (3) The trend analysis primarily revealed a nonsignificant or significant increase in NDVI and RSEI values and a nonsignificant decrease in DI values. Specifically, 12.12% and 61.10% of the study area exhibited a nonsignificant and significant increase in NDVI, respectively, whereas 5.06% and 38.63% of the study area showed a nonsignificant and significant increase in RSEI, respectively. The ecological improvement areas were concentrated in the northwestern and southeastern regions with higher human activity levels. From 1986 to 2021, the Babusha region demonstrated marked vegetation restoration, sustained improvement in the ecological environment, and significantly effective desertification control, facilitating the establishment of a replicable Babusha model.