Long-Term NDVI Trends and Vegetation Resilience in a Seismically Active Debris Flow Watershed: A Case Study from the Wenchuan Earthquake Zone

Wen Zhang, Zelin Wang (), Minghui Meng, Tiantao Li, Jian Guo, Dong Sun, Liang Qin, Xiaoya Xu and Xiaoyu Shen
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Wen Zhang: Technology Innovation Center for Risk Prevention and Mitigation of Geohazard, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu 611734, China
Zelin Wang: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geo-Environment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Minghui Meng: Sichuan Geological Environment Survey and Research Center, Chengdu 610081, China
Tiantao Li: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geo-Environment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Jian Guo: Department of Civil Engineering, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua 617000, China
Dong Sun: Sichuan Geological Environment Survey and Research Center, Chengdu 610081, China
Liang Qin: Sichuan Geological Environment Survey and Research Center, Chengdu 610081, China
Xiaoya Xu: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geo-Environment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Xiaoyu Shen: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geo-Environment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: Vegetation restoration in seismically active regions involves complex interactions between geological hazards and ecological processes. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation recovery is critical for assessing disaster evolution, evaluating mitigation effectiveness, and guiding ecological resilience planning. This study investigates post-earthquake vegetation dynamics in the Chutou Gully watershed, located in the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake zone, using NDVI data from 2000 to 2022. Results reveal a sharp decline in vegetation cover following the earthquake, followed by a steady recovery trend, with NDVI values projected to return to pre-earthquake levels by 2030. Degradation was concentrated in debris flow channels, while more stable adjacent slopes exhibited stronger recovery. Over time, the area of poorly restored vegetation significantly declined, indicating increased ecosystem resilience. The findings highlight the need for site-specific ecological restoration strategies tailored to localized recovery conditions. This study provides valuable insights for disaster mitigation agencies, ecological planners, and local governments working in mountainous hazard-prone regions, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of ecosystems in disaster-prone areas.

Keywords: NDVI; spatiotemporal dynamics; vegetation recovery; trend analysis; geological hazards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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