Guizhou advances ecological protection and restoration

A news conference on Aug 14 revealed that Guizhou's natural resources system is advancing a coordinated strategy for ecological protection and restoration, focusing on mine rehabilitation and establishing an environmental restoration network.

Located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Pearl rivers, Guizhou is a vital region for water conservation. With 92.5 percent of its land comprising mountains and hills, and 61.9 percent of its terrain being exposed karst, the province is one of the most typical karst regions in the world. By utilizing this unique ecological foundation, Guizhou is taking a systematic approach to restoration.

A comprehensive ecological restoration framework has been built, breaking administrative barriers and integrating ecological, agricultural, and urban spaces. The province has also completed a three-tier restoration planning network at provincial, municipal, and county levels, providing a clear blueprint and pathways for implementation.

Guizhou is also leading efforts to restore abandoned mines, with tasks that include verifying abandoned mine sites, establishing a province-wide database, and issuing the Guizhou Abandoned Mine Ecological Restoration Action Plan. A full investigation of mining-damaged land is underway this year, laying the groundwork for land reuse and region-specific mine rehabilitation.