Driving Mechanisms of Spatio-Temporal Vegetation Dynamics in a Typical Agro-Pastoral Transitional Zone in Fengning County, North China

Investigating vegetation dynamics and their drivers in ecologically vulnerable regions is essential for evaluating ecological restoration outcomes. This study examined the spatiotemporal evolution of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and its influencing factors in Fengning county, the Bashang region from 2001 to 2023 using land use transition matrix, trend analysis, and geographical detector methods. Key findings include the following: (1) Land use transition exhibited a clear phased pattern, shifting from cropland-to-grassland conversion (2001–2010) to grassland-to-forest conversion (2010–2023).(2) The annual mean NDVI increased significantly, showing a southeast–northwest spatial gradient consistent with landforms. The long-term trend followed a sequential “degradation–improvement–consolidation” trajectory. (3) Factor detection identified land use type as the primary driver of vegetation spatial heterogeneity (q = 0.297), highlighting the dominant influence of human activities. (4) Interaction detection demonstrated bivariate enhancement for all factor pairs, with the combination of land use type and precipitation yielding the highest explanatory power (q = 0.440). This underscores that vegetation dynamics are predominantly governed by nonlinear interactions between human-driven land use and climate. The research highlights the effectiveness of ecological restoration policies and offers valuable insights for guiding future ecosystem management in ecologically fragile areas under climate change.