Area Datasets of ‘Grain for Green’ Project in Counties of the Loess Plateau from 1999 to 2020

The implementation of major ecological projects can lead to widespread land use changes, thereby affecting regional ecosystem services. To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and trend changes of ecological restoration under the background of the Grain for Green Project (GGP) in the Loess Plateau from 1999 to 2020, this study constructed datasets at the county level based on China's administrative divisions. Specifically, annual land use data were extracted and processed using ArcGIS software, resulting in annual data on GGP areas (including seven types of land use conversion) for each county in the Loess Plateau from 1999 to 2020. This revealed the impact of the GGP on land use patterns. Through data quality control and evaluation, the reliability and scientific validity of the research results were ensured. The data indicated that under the implementation of the GGP, the Loess Plateau region experienced significant vegetation restoration, with 5.26×106 ha of vegetation restored between 1999 and 2020. The vegetation coverage gradually increased, and the ecological environment improved. These data results provide a scientific basis for the protection and management of the ecological environment in the Loess Plateau and offer data support for the implementation of the regional GGP.