[Objective] The relationships between NDVI and the impacting variables of climatic factors and human activity in central Yunnan Province were demonstrated to provide scientific basis for the sustainable social and economic development of the Province.[Methods] MODIS NDVI(normal difference vegetation index, NDVI) data sets, climate data from standard meteorological stations and socio-economic statistical source were dealt with overlay method, spatial statistical analysis and correlation analysis to study the characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of vegetation NDVI.[Results] Vegetation growing season in Central Yunnan Province starts from early May and ends around late October. From 2001 On 2010, vegetation NDVI showed a rising trend and a rate of 0.03/10 a. Though vegetation coverage area showed an increasing trend overall, there still existed decreases region for vegetation coverage in Central Yunnan Province. The increased and decreased area covered 70.24% and 29.76% of the total area of central Yunnan Province. The most prominent areas with decreased vegetation NDVI were found mainly around the people-centered cities and towns; and the increased areas were mainly in the high-altitude. The average relative humidity, minimum relative humidity and precipitation were the main factors affecting the annual change of vegetation NDVI. The implementation of returning farm land to forestry played a key role for the enhancement of vegetation coverage in Central Yunnan Province; On the contrary, the process of urbanization led to vegetation degradation. [Conclusion] The short term change of vegetation NDVI in central Yunnan Province, for example, the annual change was determined by climatic factors; While long-term change was mainly affected by human activities.