Integrated approach for ecological restoration and ecological spatial network optimization with multiple ecosystem functions in mining areas

The transformation of the landscape structure in mining cities is influenced by a combination of various factors, resulting in a decline in the ecological quality of the landscape and an increased vulnerability of the ecological environment. The quality of landscape ecology directly impacts the flow and transmission of ecosystem functions, underscoring the need for careful consideration in the establishment of landscape ecological networks. In this study, an analysis was conducted using land-use data from 2005 to 2020 in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, China. A network optimization strategy was established, focusing on the capacity for ecosystem self-restoration and the connectivity of ecological patches. Additionally, the spatiotemporal characteristics of landscape ecological risk between 2005 and 2020 were examined. Taking into account the influence of the ecological value of the landscape on the resilience of the ecosystem, the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model was employed to construct the landscape ecological network. The structural characteristics of the landscape ecological network were explored using complex network methods. In addition, an optimization strategy based on ecosystem functionality and connectivity (EC) was adopted, and by comparing the connectivity and robustness of the network before and after the optimization, it was found that the method enhanced the smoothness of energy transfer and interconnectivity among nodes of the network, and significantly enhanced the stability of the ecological network. Within the study area, local levels of risk increased due to coal mining and urban expansion. (The maximum value in 2005 was 335.) However, overall risk levels improved with the progress of land reclamation efforts. (The maximum value in 2020 was 325.) Higher risks were observed in the vicinity of urban construction and mining areas, while forested and grassland areas exhibited relatively lower risks. The changes in risk within the study area were primarily influenced by factors such as mining activities, urban expansion, government policies, changes in land use types, and village relocation. The findings of this study provide theoretical support for the optimization of the landscape structure in mining cities, the construction of systems of ecological security as well as the restoration of ecosystems.