Based on RS and GIS

land use changes and its driving factors in Baotou from1987 to 2002 have been analysed.The findings can be explained as following:(1) From 1987 to 2002

the areas of forestlands

grasslands and waters are reduced

whereas the areas of other land use types are enlarged.Parts of forestlands

grasslands and waters had becomed farmlands and about 31.5% of the changed grasslands transferred to unused lands.The newly-increased farmlands mainly came from grasslands and unused lands

and the former account for 36.34% while the latter 27.61%.The newly-increased lands for construction mainly came from grasslands and farmlands

and the propotion of them are 49.86% and 34.28% respectively.(2)The general quality of regional eco-environment has deteriorated from 1987 to 2002

and the land degradation

specially the lawn degeneration

and the developing the cultivated land are the main factors which the region ecological environment worsens

the ecological contribution ratio of them respectively is 51.84%(41.04%)

23.63%.(3)The tendency of land use changes and its eco-environmental effects displayed spatial heterogeneity.The general quality of regional eco-environment in every district has deteriorated during the last 16 years

and the fastest is Damao County

and the slowest is Tuyou County.The degradation of meadow plays a decisive role in the deterioration of Damao's general ecological environment

and its ecological contribution rate is up to 96.61%.However

the ecological contribution ratio of the meadow degradationg

afforestation and conceding the cultivated land to forest and grass in Tuyou County are 44.23%

18.21% and 10.36% respectively.This indicates that afforestation and conceding the cultivated land to forest and grass play a certain role in the improvement of Tuyou's general ecological environment.