Based on dynamic data of land use in 1980, 1990 and 2000, and by the table of Chinese ecosystem service value per unit area of different ecosystem types and ecological sensitivity analysis, a typical ecological fragile zones of the upper reach of Yangtze River was selected to explore land use changes and their effects on the ecosystem services value . Results showed that area of forest, grassland and wetland had the varying degree growth, and ecosystem service values showed an upward trend in the study region from 1980 to 1990. However, due to a dramatic increase in the area of construction land, farmland and unused land from 1990 to 2000, which were mainly transferred from forest and grass land, all kinds of ecosystem functions declined in different extents during the whole study period. The total ecosystem service values of the study region reduced from 11 119.16×108 Yuan in 1980 to 11 077.85×108 Yuan in 2000, with the net decline of 41.31×108 Yuan. The rapid urbanization and development mode aimed at economic interests have brought significant harm to the local ecosystem service functions and sustainable development.