[Objective] The temporal and spatial change characteristics of a soil conservation function in Southern Jiangxi Province were analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for improving soil conservation capacity and maintaining an ecological security barrier in southern hills.[Methods] The InVEST model was used to calculate the soil retention capacity of different land use types, different elevations, different slopes, and different counties in Sourthern Jiangxi Province using data observed during 2000, 2010, and 2018. The spatial correlations between soil conservation capacity and NDVI, and the temporal and spatial characteristics of soil conservation functions in Sourthern Jiangxi Province were analyzed.[Results] ① The areas of cultivated land, irrigated forest land, water, and unused land decreased, while the areas of urban land and rural residential land increased. ② The value of soil retention capacity increased from 189.93 t/(hm²·yr) to 190.50 t/(hm²·yr), and the peak values were observed in forest land, which increased from 259.85 t/(hm²·yr) to 262.03 t/(hm²·yr). ③ The value of soil retention capacity in the boundary region was higher than in the central region. The value increased first and then decreased with increasing altitude, and increased with increasing slope. ④ Soil retention capacity and NDVI were positively correlated (p<0.01). The high-high agglomeration areas were located in the northern, western, and southern regions; the high-low agglomeration area was located in the central region (including Yudu County); and the low-low agglomeration area was located in Zhanggong County, Gan County, and Nankang County.[Conclusion] Soil retention capacity in the Gannan region was highly associated with land use type, elevation, slope, NDVI, and economic development level. To improve the value of soil retention capacity, soil protection measures in low-altitude and low-slope areas should be increased. Additionally, improving soil retention capacity in the middle and low mountainous areas by increasing the spatial variation of land use types in the low and middle mountain areas would reduce soil erosion and ecological risk in mountainous areas.