Remote Sensing Analysis of Changes in Land Cover in the Three-Gorges Reservoir Region

By using the Landsat TM data of 1995 and 2000,changes in land cover in the Three-Gorges Reservoir region during the 5 years are analyzed.It is shown that the changes in land cover in this region during this period were mainly displayed as conversion of forestland into grassland and cultivated land and of cultivated land into construction land,and secondarily as conversion of forestland into construction land,of forestland into shrubs and of grassland into forestland.Such changes indicate that,in recent years,the ecological environment in the Three Gorges Reservoir region was worsening on the whole,except some local areas.Therefore,it is essential to enhance protection of the ecological environment with emphases on conservation and rehabilitation of forestland and control of alienation of cultivated land.