A 35-Year Analysis of Vegetation Cover in Rare-Earth Mining Areas Using Landsat Data

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) plays a significant role in assessing ecological quality and protection, as well as soil and water conservation. As a typical rare-earth resource county in China, Dingnan County has experienced rapid development due to rare-earth mining, resulting in significant alterations to vegetation cover. To elucidate the spatio-temporal changes in vegetation within Dingnan County over the past 35 years and the effects of natural and human factors on these changes, the spatial and temporal variations in FVC were analyzed using Landsat-TM/OLI multispectral images taken in 1988, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2017, and 2023. The findings indicate that (1) vegetation coverage in Dingnan County decreased from 1988 to 2002, followed by a gradual increase; (2) high vegetation cover is predominantly found in forested areas that maintain their natural state, while the central town and mining areas exhibit generally low coverage; (3) there are regional differences in the relationship between vegetation cover and environmental factors in Dingnan County. This research facilitates the alignment of ion-type rare-earth mining with ecological protection, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the mining area and providing scientific guidance for local governments to formulate more effective management and protection strategies for the mining ecosystem. Additionally, this research offers a scientific foundation for mining areas globally to develop sustainable policies and informed decision-making regarding environmental protection and sustainable development.