Based on the land use/vegetation cover change (LUCC) in the Loess Plateau over the past 30 years,LUCC and its environmental effects in the region are to be analyzed to provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development policy of the regional eco-environment and social economy.This paper used the methods of geostatistics and trend analysis to study the characteristics of land use change,driving forces and environmental effects since 1980 and to explore the relationship between land use change and regional sustainable development.The results show that:1)overall,land use structure of the Loess Plateau has not changed,grassland,farmland,and forest land are still dominant,but vegetation cover has significantly increased.2)LUCC in the Loess Plateau are affected by climate change and human activities.There are regional differences in impact degrees,among which the hilly-gully region in the central part of the Loess Plateau is mainly caused by human activities.3)LUCC in the Loess Plateau exerts long-term ecological and environmental impacts on the ecological environment processes such as surface runoff,soil erosion,soil moisture and carbon cycling.Vegetation restoration has negative effects on the regional ecological environment while generates ecological benefits.In conclusion,the productivity of vegetation in the Loess Plateau has approached the threshold of carrying capacity of water resources.Therefore,improving the stability of artificial vegetation and promoting the balance of water resources become the main topics for promoting sustainable development on the Loess Plateau at this stage.