Qingzhen city promotes green mining through ecological conservation

A mine in Qingzhen, Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo/ddcpc website]

As China seeks to improve ecosystems across the country amid efforts to achieve high-quality development, the vision of Qingzhen city in Southwest China's Guizhou province to promote green mining has become a reality thanks to targeted measures in recent years, local media reported.

The city, which is rich in mineral resources for mining development, has prioritized ecological conservation and geological security in its management of both mineral exploration and environmental protection, and the ecological environment has been greatly improved, officials said.

Over the past three years, the city has asked 62 mines to rehabilitate areas that will not further develop within their mining areas, and ordered 97 mines to take measures aimed at solving problems caused by illegal mining.

Changchonghe Bauxite Mine, covering an area of 6.86 square kilometers, started operating in 1971. After open-pit mining was halted in recent years, rehabilitation work has become a priority. It has invested 25 million yuan in rehabilitation by planting trees and grass as well as promoting geological restoration.

Huang Jifang, 62, a local resident, said that with the progress in rehabilitating the Changchonghe Bauxite Mine, the local living environment has been markedly improved. The barren mountains that were used for mining development have turned green and dust pollution has been reduced, she said.