Ecosystem Health Assessment of Coal Mining Subsidence Wetlands Using the DPSIR Model: A Case Study in Yingshang County, China

Cankun Li, Jiang Chang (), Shiyuan Zhou and Shanshan Feng
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Cankun Li: School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Jiang Chang: School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Shiyuan Zhou: School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Shanshan Feng: School of Architecture and Design, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: Coal mining in the eastern Huaihe Plain has led to land degradation and hydrological disturbances, transforming terrestrial ecosystems into a complex of terrestrial and aquatic systems. These changes significantly impact regional ecological processes, structure, and functions. Hence, assessing the health condition and restoring the degraded subsidence wetlands efficiently have become urgent issues in coal resource-based cities. This research developed an ecosystem health assessment model for mining subsidence wetlands using the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework, with a focus on the subsidence wetlands of Yingshang County, Anhui Province. The assessment findings indicated that the wetland ecosystem was in a sub-healthy condition, with a health score of 0.51. Specific scores for the subsystems “Driving Force”, “Pressure”, and “State” were 0.584, 0.690, and 0.537, respectively, indicating that these subsystems were categorized as healthy, very healthy, and sub-healthy. In contrast, the scores for the “Impact” and “Response” subsystems were 0.076 and 0.093, both falling within the very poor (V) status. Weight analysis of the indicators revealed that the regional development index (Cp1), mining subsidence disturbance intensity (Cp2), aggregation index (Cs3), diversity index (Cs4), and wetland conservation rate (Cr1) significantly affected wetland ecosystem health. Taking into account both the health assessment results and the specific environmental conditions of the study area, this research recommends restoration strategies and the preservation of wetland ecosystems. The findings from this study can provide a basis for governmental bodies to create specific strategies and policies aimed at the conservation and management of subsidence wetlands.

Keywords: coal mining subsidence wetlands; ecological restoration; DPSIR model; CRITIC method; Yingshang County (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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