Impacts of open‐pit coal mining and livestock grazing on plant diversity in a steppe: From the perspective of remote sensing

Abstract Coal mining and grazing cause land degradation. Plant diversity loss is one of the characteristics. Ground surveys cannot analyze the effects of mining and grazing on plant diversity in large areas, and remote sensing offers a novel solution. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to analyze the impacts of mining and grazing on plant diversity composition by considering α‐, β‐, and γ‐ diversity comprehensively; (2) to determine the impacts of mining and grazing on the spatial distribution of α‐diversity; (3) to identify priority areas for ecological restoration. We applied a novel remote sensing method to obtain plant α‐, β‐, and γ‐ diversity maps and performed spatial analysis. The results were as follows: (1) mining reduced the proportion of α‐diversity in the total diversity (γ‐diversity) but increased that of β‐diversity. Grazing increased the proportion of α‐diversity but decreased that of β‐diversity. Mining increased the heterogeneity among plant communities, whereas grazing increased the homogeneity. (2) Both mining and grazing reduced α‐diversity. With increasing distance from the mine, α‐diversity increased logarithmically. (3) The severely affected range of mining on plant diversity is approximately 325 m. When there is grazing around the mine, the severely affected range is approximately 400 m. Severely affected areas are priority areas for ecological restoration. Improving the soil quality can be an effective measure. This study gains new insights into the effects of coal mining and grazing on plant diversity. These findings can provide some guidance for governments to formulate ecological restoration measures in mining areas.