Objective To investigate the effects of climate change on the geographical distribution of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Gansu Province,and predict its potential habitat;To provide a theoretical basis for resource conservation of cultivation of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao.Methods Based on the distribution data of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao from field surveys,the maximum entropy model and geographic information system were used to simulate its potential habitat in Gansu Province for the current(1970-2000)and future(2041-2060)periods,and the contribution of environmental factors and the results of the knife-cut test were integrated to assess the important factors governing the distribution of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao.Results The dominant environmental variables governing the geographical distribution of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao were precipitation in the wettest month,average temperature in the wettest season,and elevation.The potential suitable area of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Gansu Province under current climatic conditions was 65 902.66 km2,and the high suitable area was mainly concentrated in Dingxi District.In the future period,the suitable areas of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao under the scenarios of SSP126,SSP370 and SSP585 all showed a decreasing trend,especially the area of the high suitable areas decreased significantly.Conclusion Future climate change will lead to a significant reduction in the suitable habitat for A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao in Gansu Province.The suitable habitat will mainly move towards high-altitude mountainous areas,and the continuity of A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao resources can be maintained by establishing ecological protection zones.