Impact of bauxite mining on vegetation health in Jamaica: NDVI and aerosol optical depth analysis using remote sensing

Bauxite mining significantly alters land cover and air quality, impacting vegetation health in Jamaica's mining regions. This study employs MODIS, Sentinel, and IMERG/GPM datasets to assess the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), and precipitation across bauxite and non-bauxite areas in St. Ann, Manchester, Clarendon, and St. Catherine. The findings reveal a strong negative correlation between AOD and NDVI, with increased dust pollution from mining contributing to vegetation decline. NDVI analysis shows that mining regions experience lower vegetation cover and slower recovery than non-mining areas, particularly during dry periods when precipitation is limited. These results underscore the urgent need for sustainable mining policies, enhanced dust mitigation measures, and ecosystem restoration efforts to counteract the adverse environmental effects of bauxite mining in Jamaica. • Bauxite mining reduces vegetation and air quality, increasing dust pollution. • NDVI and AOD analysis shows that mining areas suffer more vegetation loss. • Sustainable mining and dust control are essential for ecosystem recovery.