The study looked at how grasslands in the western Songnen Plain changed over 12 years due to human activities. They used remote sensing and GIS technology to analyze the vegetation and found that the areas of grasslands decreased during this time. The main reason for this decline was continuous human exploitation of the land. The researchers also found that the degradation of grasslands was mostly irreversible, with higher-coverage grasslands turning into mid-coverage and then into lower-coverage. The spread of saline-alkalized grasslands was mainly caused by human impact, especially on mid-coverage grasslands. To ensure sustainable development, it is crucial to use grassland resources wisely and restore degraded areas effectively.