[Objective] The changes, influencing factors, and development trends of vegetation cover in Xilinhot City and Abaga Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were analyzed to provide a scientific reference for regional ecological and environmental protection and governance.[Methods] Landsat images in five phases were used to obtain the spatial-temporal evolution of vegetation coverage from 1977 to 2017, which was combined with climate and social-economic data as a means of exploring influencing factors. The CA-Markov model was also used to predict the vegetation coverage in 2025.[Results] ① In terms of time, the vegetation coverage showed a state of decrease from 1977 but then began to slowly increase after 2000. The median and high vegetation coverage area changed in two periods:-27 862.42 km² during 1977-2000 and 16 649.44 km² during 2000-2017. ② Spatially, the vegetation cover in the central part of the study area changed greatly, while that in the northern and eastern regions changed little. In a local ecological nature reserve, the vegetation cover changed little, whereas mining and other production activities caused the decline of surrounding vegetation cover, but urban land use and expansion of accommodation had little impact on the surrounding vegetation cover change. ③ Climate change was the basic driving force, and human factors were the main influencing factor. Ecological construction projects and livestock quantity control had positive effects, whereas livestock quantity overload and mineral exploitation had negative effects. ④ The predicted results for 2025 suggest that vegetation cover will increase and maintain a state of recovery, but that the degree of recovery was not very good.[Conclusion] People in the study area need to focus on the development concept "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". An increase in construction efforts for providing ecological and environmental security services is needed to make Inner Mongolia an important ecological security barrier in northern China.