The change of sandy desertification and land cover from 1987 to 2002 were monitored based on the application of Landsat-TM and ETM satellite data.The following results were achieved:(1)The TM and ETM satellite images with mid-resolutions are available data for change monitoring of desertification and land cover at regional scale like a County

in which the monitoring accuracy may reach over 90%.(2) The sandy desertification is developing with increase of desertified area and strength of severity of desertification in study area

which shows fewer effects of activities for rehabilitation of desertified lands.(3) The areas of first and second degree rangelands were enlarged due to enclosing rangelands at large scale

so the quality of rangeland was greatly improved

but the range desertification is still common caused by overgrazing on unenclosed third degree rangeland.(4) The areas of farmland and residential area are decreased because of implementation of national project for return farmland to rangeland and withdrawal of some state-own farms.