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Spatiotemporal pattern of post-earthquake vegetation recovery in a mountainous catchment in southwestern China

Author

Listed:
  • Jiaorong Lv

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiubin He,

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuhai Bao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hong Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Major earthquakes in mountainous areas usually exert negative impacts on vegetation cover and growth due the numerous coseismic landslides. However, understanding of the duration of these impacts and spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation recovery dominated by environmental factors remains limited. The present study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of natural vegetation restoration and associated mechanisms in a mountainous basin in southwestern China after the 2008 Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake. The results showed that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) substantially decreased from 0.70 to 0.47 after the earthquake and then gradually increased at an average rate of 0.020 yr− 1. By 2023, vegetation had been restored to its pre-earthquake levels in 84.9% of the total area. And 15.1% of the land remains unrecovered, with 11.7% covered by landslide slump mass. Approximately 4.16% of the entire basin is projected to recover in the future (θslope > 0, H > 0.5) over a seven-year period. Elevation was the most crucial factor influencing both the damage and recovery of vegetation in the basin, followed by landslide slump mass and soil type. The overall vegetation recovery potential is limited, with an average vegetation restoration potential index (VRPI) of 0.21 in 2023. Notably, 11.2% of the basin exhibited a VRPI > 0.4, mainly situated in the northernmost part, characterized by high altitude (> 3000 m), carbonate–cinnamon soil, and dense distribution of landslide slump mass. The results indicate that natural vegetation has a robust capacity for recovery, albeit hindered by active landslides and fragile high-altitude habitats, where human intervention should be implemented. The results provide valuable information to guide future vegetation restoration planning and layout in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaorong Lv & Xiubin He, & Yuhai Bao & Hong Li, 2025. "Spatiotemporal pattern of post-earthquake vegetation recovery in a mountainous catchment in southwestern China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(3), pages 3023-3046, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:121:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-024-06918-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-024-06918-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dayuan Sun & Junzhuo Li & Yuanbo Gong, 2023. "Effects of Planting Density of Poaceae Species on Slope Community Characteristics and Artificial Soil Nutrients in High-Altitude Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Quanjun Jiao & Bing Zhang & Liangyun Liu & Zhenwang Li & Yuemin Yue & Yong Hu, 2014. "Assessment of spatio-temporal variations in vegetation recovery after the Wenchuan earthquake using Landsat data," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 70(2), pages 1309-1326, January.
    3. Yang Liu & Ronggao Liu & Quansheng Ge, 2010. "Evaluating the vegetation destruction and recovery of Wenchuan earthquake using MODIS data," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 54(3), pages 851-862, September.
    4. Pandey, Hari Prasad & Gnyawali, Kaushal & Dahal, Kshitij & Pokhrel, Narayan Prasad & Maraseni, Tek Narayan, 2022. "Vegetation loss and recovery analysis from the 2015 Gorkha earthquake (7.8 Mw) triggered landslides," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
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