Journal of Resources and Ecology ›› 2014, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (1): 42-52.DOI: 10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2014.01.005

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Current Status, Challenges and Policy Recommendations Regarding the Sustainable Development of Mining Areas in China

LI Qian1,2, ZHANG Wenzhong1, WANG Dai1   

  1. 1 Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China;
    2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2014-01-20 Revised:2014-02-27 Online:2014-03-18 Published:2014-03-18
  • Contact: ZHANG Wenzhong. Email:zhangwz@igsnrr.ac.cn.
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China (41230632 and 41101150), and Key Project for the Strategic Science Plan in IGSNRR, CAS (2012ZD006).

Abstract: As important suppliers of energy resources, mining areas have made huge contributions to China's socio-economic development. However, some factors are inhibiting the further development of mining areas and, thereby pose a threat to social stability, as well as resource and energy security in the country. In 2012, the National Development and Reform Commission formulated a project aiming to support the sustainable development of mining areas. This study collected and compiled the project's first-hand survey data from 128 mining areas across China and comprehensively investigated the current development status of the country's mining areas. The problems facing the development of China's mining areas are analyzed, and four specific suggestions are provided, namely: promote industry transformation, remove institutional constraints, improve people's livelihoods to maintain the stability of mining areas, and protect the environment to provide a clean, healthy living environment for mining area residents. This paper provides the first comprehensive and systematic picture of China's mining areas and highlights the importance of mining areas for the country's economic and social development.

Key words: mining areas, status evaluation, limiting factors, policy suggestions