The researchers studied how sandy desertification changed in western Jilin Province. They used satellite images and field surveys to create a map showing the severity of desertification. They found that, overall, the problem has improved in the past 20 years, especially in Tongyu and Fuyu counties. This improvement is due to factors like rainfall and successful ecological projects. However, some areas, like Taonan, Zhenlai, and Changling counties, have seen an increase in desertification. The researchers concluded that while progress has been made, human activities and natural factors still contribute to the spread of sandy desertification in the region.