Temporal Changes in Vegetation around Open Cast Quarries: Milas–Ören Lignite Coal Quarries

Abstract

Due to the rising coal demand for energy, open cast coal mines, as well as concerns about their environmental impact, have increased globally. Such mines, often situated in forested areas outside cities, raise apprehensions. This study evaluates the changes in vegetation around a Milas–Ören open cast lignite coal mining site, Türkiye, between 1984 and 2023, using Landsat images and Google Earth Engine. The results reveal a loss of around 1950 ha of forests, 570 ha of olive groves, and an expansion of mining areas by over 1700 ha. The study found that mining activities have environmental impacts outside as well as inside the mining area, and the study provides a long-term and systematic analysis of the current situation.

Keywords

• open cast quarries
• remote sensing
• change detection
• land use/land cover change
• Milas–Ören lignite quarries
• deforestation