[Objective] The spatiotemporal evolution trends and driving mechanisms of vegetation cover in the Dongting Lake area from 2000 to 2022 were investigated, in order to identify key influencing factors and their contribution levels, and provide scientific references for regional ecological restoration and sustainable development. [Methods] Based on the Google Earth Engine cloud platform, the kernel normalized difference vegetation index(kNDVI) was constructed using MOD13A1 V6 data. The Theil-Sen Median trend analysis, Mann-Kendall test, Hurst index, and structural equation model(SEM) were integrated to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of kNDVI in the Dongting Lake area. The coupling mechanisms among climatic factors, human activities, and topographic factors were comprehensively assessed. [Results] ① From 2000 to 2022, the kNDVI in the Dongting Lake area showed an overall increasing trend(0.025/10 a, p<0.001), with a spatial pattern of higher values in the eastern, southern, and western parts and lower values in the central and northern parts.② Vegetation cover exhibited persistent improvement, with the Hurst index predicting that persistently improved areas accounted for 57.87%, persistently stable areas for 38.97%, and persistently degraded areas for only 3.61%.③ The SEM demonstrated that the total effects of driving factors on kNDVI changes were ranked as follows: nighttime light > population density > elevation > slope > land use > soil moisture > temperature > aspect > precipitation. [Conclusion] Over the past 23 years, vegetation cover in the Dongting Lake area has shown overall improvement. Human activities are the primary negative driving factor of vegetation change, climatic factors play a positive promoting role, and the effects of topographic factors remain relatively limited.