Abstract: This research investigated the vegetation of the Ebinur Lake Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, a typical desert-oasis ecotonein northen China. After radiometric and geometric correction, Landsat remote sensing images from 1990, 1998 and 2011 were used for the study. The classification of land cover based on a decision tree approach was implemented using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the vertical zonal vegetation distribution. Annual rainfall and the average annual temperature data of four meteorological stations were utilized. The NDVI was generally highest in the piedmont desert grass and lowest in desert areas; piedmont desert grass>desert steppe>saline meadow>herbaceous swamp>desert. The area of land influenced by salinization appeared to be increasing. Over the 20 year period mean temperatures showed an increasing trend, consistent with the global warming trend. Temperature did not influence NDVI but rainfall was positively correlated with NDVI. It was concluded that the establishment of the Ebinur Lake Nature Reserve has significantly reduced land degradation and that government policy plays a significant role in the protection of desert environments.