Mining Can Exacerbate Global Degradation of Dryland

Groundwater storage (GS) is the major water resource for vegetation in drylands. Thus, positive relationships between vegetative growth condition (VGC) and GS are expected Since mining-induced dewatering tends to deplete surrounding mine sites, VGC should become less favorable due a shortage of accessible water. However, quantitative analysis repealed opposite. We found that global annual mineral production drylands increased by 24%, while decreased 22% but improved 37% (2002–2010). And negative were detected 84.7% dryland sites. concluded irrigation supported promoted since limited, irrigation-supported unsustainable. This study elucidates reason behind these abnormal highlights potential risk degradation induced unsustainable groundwater depletion