Discussion on integrated ecological restoration in mining areas

The development of mineral resources has been a fundamental pillar supporting China’s rapid modernization and economic growth. However, this extensive exploitation has concurrently and inevitably induced a series of significant ecological and environmental challenges, including land degradation, water resource depletion and pollution, air pollution, and biodiversity loss. In the current era, guided by the national strategic objectives of achieving“Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality”(the“Dual Carbon”goals) and embracing the holistic ecological philosophy of the “Life Community of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, Farmlands, Lakes, Grasslands, and Deserts,” ecological restoration in China’s mining areas is undergoing a profound and essential transformation. This shift is moving away from traditional, often simplistic remediation methods towards a new paradigm that emphasizes green, low-carbon development and, most critically, integrated and systematic restoration. Despite this positive directional shift, the current practice of mining area ecological restoration in China is still largely plagued by a “fragmentation” dilemma. This predicament is prominently manifested in three key aspects: a persistent focus on single-element management, the adoption of a single-scale perspective, and an over-reliance on a single, often narrowly focused, technological solution. This fragmented approach struggles to effectively support the restoration of complex mining ecosystems and constrains the sustainability of restoration outcomes. In response, based on the holistic, systematic, and synergistic requirements of the Life Community concept, this study systematically elaborates on the connotation of “Integrated Ecological Restoration in Mining Areas”. It explores the supporting theories for this integrated approach and proposes implementation pathways, models, and a key technology system for integrated mining area restoration from the perspectives of multi-element synergy, multi-scale linkage, and whole-process management. The main conclusions are as follows: ① From the perspectives of elements, scales, and processes, the connotation of “Integrated Ecological Restoration in Mining Areas” is proposed, emphasizing the systemic, synergistic, and sustainable nature of ecological restoration in these areas. This moves beyond isolated interventions towards a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem as an interconnected whole.② A supporting theoretical framework for integrated ecological restoration in mining areas is constructed, centering on the Life Community Theory, Landscape Ecology Theory, Scale Theory, and Life Cycle Theory. This multi-dimensional theoretical foundation provides the necessary principles for guiding the holistic restoration of complex mining ecosystems, addressing interactions across biological, physical, and temporal dimensions.③ Centered around the ecosystem restoration pathway of “Pattern-Process-Service-Sustainability”, a tripartite implementation path for integrated ecological restoration in mining areas is proposed. This path integrates "Multi-element Synergy, Multi-scale Linkage, and Whole-process Management" into a unified framework, ensuring coordinated action across different ecosystem components, hierarchical levels, and all stages from pre-mining planning to post-closure monitoring.④ A key technology system for integrated ecological restoration in mining areas, coupling multiple techniques, has been synthesized. This system includes: “Air-Space-Ground-Deep” integrated monitoring technologies for comprehensive data acquisition; the coupled application and synergy of physical, chemical, and biological restoration techniques to address diverse degradation issues; technologies for the systematic restoration of the soil-hydrology-vegetation complex, recognizing their tight interlinkages; and concurrent mining and rehabilitation techniques to minimize the restoration lag time and integrate restoration into active mining operations. This integrated technological suite provides practical tool support for the implementation of ecological restoration projects in mining areas.