Abstract: The western Jilin is located in a transitional zone between agriculture and animal husbandry, characterized by arid climate, fragile ecology, and relatively lagging economic development. Investigating the relationship between land use transitions and ecological quality is crucial for sustainable utilization of land resources. This paper analyzes the characteristics of land use transitions and changes in habitat quality from 1990 to 2020 in western Jilin using ArcGIS and the InVEST model. By quantifying the contribution rate of habitat quality, it examines the impact of land transitions on habitat quality in this region. The results show that  land conversions were concentrated in cultivated land, grassland, and unused land. Specifically, cultivated land significantly increased to 54.72% of the total area by 2020, while grassland decreased annually, becoming the primary source for cultivated land expansion. Habitat quality in western Jilin experienced a process of initial improvement followed by decline, with habitat quality indices of 0.411, 0.423, 0.386, and 0.370 respectively, indicating overall low levels. The conversions between ecological lands, cultivated land, and unused land were the main drivers of habitat quality changes. Furthermore, the local spatial distribution of habitat quality in western Jilin shows a relatively clustered pattern with separately aggregated high and low-quality habitat areas, characterized by “large concentration, small dispersion.” This research provides insights into the complex dynamics of land use and ecological quality in ecologically fragile regions, offering valuable information for sustainable land management practices.

Key words:  , land use, habitat quality, InVEST model, agro-pastoral intertwined area, western Jilin Province ,