Mitigating Urban Heat Islands (UHI) Through Vegetation Restoration: Insights From Mining Communities

Vegetation restoration plays a critical role in mitigating urban heat island (UHI) effects and improving local climate conditions, particularly in mining-affected areas. This study analyzes vegetation cover changes and their impact on UHI from 2000 to 2020 in three locations: Dexing City and Qibaoshan Township in China, and Dartford Ebbsfleet Garden City in the UK, using satellite imagery and remote sensing data. In Dexing City, the transition from open-pit to underground mining, combined with reclamation efforts, maintained a stable fractional vegetation cover (FVC) of 0.88-0.91, reducing the UHI area from 1216.86 km² in 2000 to under 1000 km² by 2020. Qibaoshan Township saw an increase in FVC from 0.88 in 2000 to over 0.92 by 2020, resulting in a 26% reduction in UHI area. Dartford achieved a temporary peak FVC of 0.71 in 2002 through urban greening initiatives. The findings show that increased vegetation cover significantly lowers surface temperatures through evapotranspiration, shading, and albedo modification, with heavily vegetated areas maintaining temperatures up to 3°C lower than adjacent mining sites. The study demonstrates the importance of integrating ecological restoration with sustainable urban planning.