Land use and vegetation changes are one of the most important topics in environmental studies and sustainable development, which plays a significant role in natural resource management and spatial planning. This study aimed to analyze the trends in land cover and land use changes in the study area during the period 2000 to 2020, and to investigate the effects of human and natural factors on spatial changes in local ecosystems. The results of the analysis of remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) showed that the area in question has undergone severe and unstable changes in land use over the past two decades. In the meantime, a significant decrease in lands with natural cover such as shrublands, pastures, and orchards was observed, while rainfed agricultural lands, grasslands, and barren areas were accompanied by significant fluctuations. The largest net negative changes were related to orchards and tree plantations, and the largest net positive change was related to shrublands, which itself indicates the structural destruction and instability of the exploitation systems in the region. Also, the successive conversion of lands between different land uses, including the conversion of shrublands to dryland, dryland to grassland and then to barren, is a sign of the lack of sustainable planning and weakness in conservation policies. The role of human factors, including road development, the expansion of scattered settlements and excessive exploitation of resources, has been very prominent in these changes. Overall, the research findings emphasize the need to review land use policies, implement effective management measures and develop sustainable development models to preserve natural resources.Land use and vegetation changes are one of the most important topics in environmental studies and sustainable development, which plays a significant role in natural resource management and spatial planning. This study aimed to analyze the trends in land cover and land use changes in the study area during the period 2000 to 2020, and to investigate the effects of human and natural factors on spatial changes in local ecosystems. The results of the analysis of remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) showed that the area in question has undergone severe and unstable changes in land use over the past two decades. In the meantime, a significant decrease in lands with natural cover such as shrublands, pastures, and orchards was observed, while rainfed agricultural lands, grasslands, and barren areas were accompanied by significant fluctuations. The largest net negative changes were related to orchards and tree plantations, and the largest net positive change was related to shrublands, which itself indicates the structural destruction and instability of the exploitation systems in the region. Also, the successive conversion of lands between different land uses, including the conversion of shrublands to dryland, dryland to grassland and then to barren, is a sign of the lack of sustainable planning and weakness in conservation policies. The role of human factors, including road development, the expansion of scattered settlements and excessive exploitation of resources, has been very prominent in these changes. Overall, the research findings emphasize the need to review land use policies, implement effective management measures and develop sustainable development models to preserve natural resources.Land use and vegetation changes are one of the most important topics in environmental studies and sustainable development, which plays a significant role in natural resource management and spatial planning. This study aimed to analyze the trends in land cover and land use changes in the study area during the period 2000 to 2020, and to investigate the effects of human and natural factors on spatial changes in local ecosystems. The results of the analysis of remote sensing data and geographic information system (GIS) showed that the area in question has undergone severe and unstable changes in land use over the past two decades. In the meantime, a significant decrease in lands with natural cover such as shrublands, pastures, and orchards was observed, while rainfed agricultural lands, grasslands, and barren areas were accompanied by significant fluctuations. The largest net negative changes were related to orchards and tree plantations, and the largest net positive change was related to shrublands, which itself indicates the structural destruction and instability of the exploitation systems in the region. Also, the successive conversion of lands between different land uses, including the conversion of shrublands to dryland, dryland to grassland and then to barren, is a sign of the lack of sustainable planning and weakness in conservation policies. The role of human factors, including road development, the expansion of scattered settlements and excessive exploitation of resources, has been very prominent in these changes. Overall, the research findings emphasize the need to review land use policies, implement effective management measures and develop sustainable development models to preserve natural resources.