Accurate monitoring and assessment of forest disturbance and recovery dynamics are essential for sustainable forest management, particularly in ecological transition zones. This study analyzed forest disturbance and recovery patterns in China’s Funiu Mountains from 1991 to 2020 by integrating the LandTrendr algorithm with space-time cube analysis. Using Landsat time series data and the Geodetector method, we examined both the spatiotemporal characteristics and driving factors of forest change across three periods. The results showed that (1) between 1991 and 2020, the study area experienced 131.19 km² of forest disturbance and 495.88 km² of recovery, with both processes most active during the 1990s; (2) spatiotemporal analysis revealed that both disturbance and recovery patterns were predominantly characterized by cold spots, suggesting relatively stable forest conditions despite localized changes; (3) human activities were the primary drivers of forest disturbance in the early period, while forest recovery was consistently influenced by the combined effects of topographic conditions and precipitation. Additionally, forest fires emerged as an important factor affecting both disturbance and recovery patterns after 2010. These findings enhance our understanding of forest dynamics in transition zones and provide empirical support for regional forest management strategies. The results also highlight the importance of considering both spatial and temporal dimensions when monitoring long-term forest changes.

Rocky desertification in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area, the core water source of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, constitutes a significant ecological threat, primarily driven by historical deforestation and agricultural expansion. To addressing the previous lack of comprehensive evaluation and spatiotemporal analysis of rocky desertification in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area, this study utilized Google Earth Engine (GEE) and GeoDetector to analyze its evolution and driving factors from 1995 to 2022. The results indicated an overall improvement, with a 1002.02 km² decrease in the desertification-prone area and an expansion of 26,077.31 km² in the non-desertified area. However, desertification remains severe in the western and southeastern regions, while the northeastern and central areas showed relative stability. Notably, desertified areas decreased substantially between 1995 and 2022, reflecting the effectiveness of ecological restoration efforts. Key driving factors include potential evapotranspiration (PET), landform, elevation, and temperature, with interactions between PET and environmental variables exhibiting strong explanatory power. These findings highlight the complex interplay between natural and anthropogenic factors in desertification dynamics. Continuing human intervention is essential to restore vegetation, mitigate soil erosion risks, and ensure the long-term stability of the reservoir’s water resources.