[Objective] This paper evaluated the degree of wind erosion damage in the mainstream of the Tarim River basin and calculated the economic compensation for the wind erosion in different desertified areas in order to provide reference for interpreting the information of ecological damage of Tarim River basin, and the restoration and improvement of the basin ecology.[Methods] Based on the MOD13A1 and MCD43A3 data, the desertification difference index (DDI) was established by determining the spatial relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and Albedo. The soil wind erosion model was used to calculate the amount of sand damage and further, the corresponding wind erosion damage compensation[Results] ① From 2010 to 2015, there was degradation but an improvement in the degree of desertification in the study area. ② During 2010-2015, the overall desertification status of the study area alleviated, and the area of desertified land in the middle and high grades declined to varying degrees i.e., "intense desertification" to "moderate desertification". ③ In 2015, the damage of different desertified land was 4.49×10⁵ t/a for extreme desertification areas, 1.33×10⁵ t/a for intense desertification areas, 3.72×10⁴ t/a for moderate desertification areas, and 2.04×10⁴ t/a for mild desertification areas.[Conclusion] In 2015, the total economic compensation amount was 3.23 million yuan i.e., in line with the local economic development level.