The researchers studied changes in vegetation in Xinjiang by analyzing satellite data from 2001 to 2020. They found that most vegetation remained stable, but some areas showed significant increases or decreases in greenness. Sparse vegetation and grassland transformed into cropland and grassland, leading to changes in vegetation health. Areas where vegetation improved had higher greenness increases compared to areas where it declined. By combining vegetation type data with greenness measurements, the researchers gained a better understanding of how vegetation changes over time in Xinjiang.