Abstract: In this paper,the temporal and spatial variations of vegetation cover in Shaanxi Province were analyzed.The purposes of this study were to explore the driving effect of the Grain for Green Project on vegetation regeneration,and the relative contributions of some natural and socio-economic factors (such as the Grain for Green Project and rainfall level) to vegetation cover change were estimated based on the SPOT_VEG NDVI data during the period from 1998 to 2013 by using the pixel dichotomy method and the Panel Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE).The result showed that the vegetation coverage in Shaanxi Province was holistically improved,the annual average NDVI value was increased by 0.98% from 1998 to 2013,and the effect of vegetation regeneration was obvious by implementing the Grain for Green Project from 1998 to 2009.The spatial difference of vegetation regeneration effect in the province was significant.During the 16 years,the NDVI in the province increased with different rates,it was increased by 0.1 in 40.61% area,by 0.2 in 29.05% area,and by 0.25 in 23.69% area.In which the most evident effect of the project on vegetation regeneration occurred in Yan’an City located in north Shaanxi Province,where the NDVI was increased by 1.12%.The NDVI was increased by 1.97% if the Grain for Green Project was implemented in 1% area of the total,which was equivalent to increasing 4.29% precipitation.The results of this study are of great significance for reconstructing the ecological environment in the study area.

Key words: Grain for Green Project, vegetation regeneration, NDVI, PCSE, Shaanxi Province