Assessing the effect, attribution, and potential of vegetation restoration in open-pit coal mines’ dumping sites during 2003–2020 utilizing remote sensing

Ecological restoration in open-pit coal mines faces significant challenges, particularly regarding vegetation restoration in dumping sites, which often experience unstable vegetation status after restoration. Hence, monitoring the vegetation restoration process and evaluating restoration effect in dumping sites are crucial. In this study, the restoration process in dumping sites was rebuilt based on the Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC), and the restoration effect was evaluated with reference to the FVC before destruction. Considering the topographic factors in dumping sites, the relative contributions of climate change and human activities was quantified. The future restoration potential of dumping sites was explored using the constructed FVC Restoration Potential Index (FRPI). The results show that: (1) This study can accurately identify the actions and characteristics of vegetation destruction and restoration of open-pit coal mines' dumping sites based on FVC time-series curves. (2) The vegetation restoration effect in dumping sites can be accurately evaluated based on the constructed "difference-value" indicator. Additionally, the FRPI enabled the assessment of dumping sites' future FVC restoration potential, providing valuable guidance for future restoration projects. (3) The correlation between topographic factors and FVC in dumping sites was slightly weak, with climate change and human activities serving as the main driving forces. Climate change was key in outer dumping sites, whereas human activities had a greater influence in Inner dumping site. This study provided a valuable approach for assessing the restoration effect, potential, and attribution, facilitating the optimization of future restoration projects.