Desertification-modified remote sensing ecological index (MRSEI) for improved ecological quality assessment in the Qilian Mountains

Intensified climate change poses significant challenges to accurate ecological quality assessment. While the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) is widely used, its universal indicators often overlook specific habitat features, potentially leading to biased evaluations. This study addresses this limitation by developing a desertification-modified RSEI (MRSEI), incorporating the desertification difference index, to assess ecological quality in the desertification-sensitive Qilian Mountains from 2000 to 2020.This study provides a refined and ecologically robust approach for assessing ecological quality in high-altitude mountain ecosystems vulnerable to desertification, offering valuable insights for sustainable ecosystem management and climate change adaptation strategies.