Vegetation as an ecological indicator in assessing environmental restoration in mining areas

Abstract

As global demand for natural resources escalates, the environmental impact stemming from resource extraction has risen to the forefront of contemporary discussions. This paper probed the potential of using vegetation cover as an ecological barometer to gauge the level of environmental damage and restoration in mining areas: a decline in vegetation cover may signify detrimental impacts from intense mining activities, while an increase may indicate effective local environmental stewardship. Therefore, this paper undertook an assessment and discussion of mining damage and environmental management at China's Ta'ershan Mining Area since 2007, calculating and visualizing FVC (Fractional Vegetation Cover) of the Ta'ershan Mining Area to track changes in vegetation cover between 2007 and 2021. Changes in vegetation cover in the Ta'ershan Mining Area could act as a reflection of both mining-induced damage and subsequent successful environmental management by local authorities, providing a practical way to evaluate ecological effects in resource development.