88 / 2023-04-20 11:16:53

Detecting the effects of opencast mining on Ecosystem Services Value in arid and semi-arid areas based on time-series remote sensing images and Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Ecosystem Services Value; mining impact; Google Earth Engine platform; Sen+MK test; Joinpoint regression model; Ordos opencast mining areas

Ecosystem Services Value(ESVs) are the various beneficial functions and proucts that natural ecosystems provide to humans, and are important indicators for evaluating ecosystem conditions and human well-being. Opencast mining is one of the human activities that severely damage the surface environment, but its long-term impact on ecosystem services lacks systematic assessment. This study takes the Ordos opencast mining area as an example, and calculates the value of ESVs from 1990 to 2020 based on the GEE platform, and analyzes its spatiotemporal variation characteristics. The Sen+mk test and Joinpoint regression model were used to analyze the changes of ESVs in the study area, as well as the impact of opencast mining on the trend of ESVs changes. The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the ESVs in the Ordos opencast mining area showed different spatial patterns and temporal trends, and the amplitude of fluctuation from 2010 to 2020 was much larger than that in previous years, which was consistent with the rapid expansion of mining. (2) The ESVs in the Ordos opencast mining area showed an overall improvement trend in the past 30 years, and the improvement area accounted for 48.45% of the total area of the study area, while the areas with significant degradation overlapped with the mining rights. (3) Opencast mining had a negative impact on all nine ESVs, reducing the quality and function of the ecosystem. (4) There was a significant difference in the trend of ESVs changes between the mining impact areas and the control areas. The control areas showed a continuous upward trend, while the mining impact areas showed a stable trend followed by a significant downward trend, with a turning point in 2007. This study provides scientific support for formulating ecosystem management, restoration plans, and payment for ecosystem service policies, which is conducive to achieving regional sustainable development and improving human well-being.