Progress and Prospects in Mine Ecological Restoration in China

LIU Rui-ping, Key Laboratory of Coupling Process and Effect of Natural Resources Elements,Beijing,100055,China;Qinghai Engineering Research Center of Geoenvironment Protection and Geohazard Prevention, Xining 810000, Qinghai, China;Qinghai Engineering Research Center of Geoenvironment Protection and Geohazard prevention,Xi’an 710119,China; Xi’an center,China Geological Survey,Ministry of Natural Resources,Xi’an 710119,China; Observation and Research Station of Environmental Geology of Typical Mines in Shaanxi

Gaofeng Dong, Qinghai Engineering Research Center of Geoenvironment Protection and Geohazard Prevention, Xining 810000, Qinghai, China; Qinghai Engineering Research Center of Geoenvironment Protection and Geohazard prevention,Xi’an 710119,China

LIU Xiao-huang, Key Laboratory of Coupling Process and Effect of Natural Resources Elements,Beijing,100055,China

Chen huaqing, Xi’an center,China Geological Survey,Ministry of Natural Resources,Xi’an 710119,China; Observation and Research Station of Environmental Geology of Typical Mines in Shaanxi Province ,MNR,Xi’an 710119,China

Peng Jie, Shaanxi Provincial Geo-environment Monitoring Station,Xi’an 710054,China

JIAO jian-gang, Earth Science and Resources of Chang'an University School,Xi’an 710054,China

Refaey M El-Wardany, Earth Science and Resources of Chang'an University School,Xi’an 710054,China; Faculty of Science,Al-Azhar University,Assiut 71524,Egypt

Abstract
Mineral resource development has triggered and generated a series of ecological problems in mining areas. Large-scale, high-intensity mineral extraction stands as the most active and dominant anthropogenic geological force affecting and altering the ecological environment of mining regions, acting as a "catalyst" that exacerbates ecological changes therein. Once changes in the mine geological environment exceed its carrying capacity, a host of acute ecological issues arise, including sudden geological disasters, degradation of water and soil environmental quality, loss of biodiversity and disruption of ecological balance, and blockage of water system connectivity—all of which threaten the safety of normal mine production and human settlement environments.Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s vision that Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, China has made remarkable progress in mine environmental governance. Nationwide, 52 holistic ecological conservation and restoration projects for mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts and 49 demonstration projects for ecological restoration of historically abandoned mineshave been launched. A complete set of ecological restoration technologies has been developed, and in 2022, China’s Shan-Shui Initiative (the holistic conservation and restoration project) was selected as one of the UN’s first batch of 10 World Restoration Flagships.

Keywords
Mine Ecological Restoration；China；Progress；Prospect

Cite this paper
LIU Rui-ping, Gaofeng Dong, LIU Xiao-huang, Chen huaqing, Peng Jie, JIAO jian-gang, Refaey M El-Wardany, Progress and Prospects in Mine Ecological Restoration in China , SCIREA Journal of Geosciences. Volume 10, Issue 2, April 2026 | PP. 63-69. 10.54647/geosciences170382