Recently, the "Implementation Plan for Phase I of the Ecological Restoration Project for Abandoned Mines with Responsible Entities in Xiangzhou County," prepared with the participation of the Guangxi Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology Team, has passed the review. This marks the official launch of Guangxi's first ecological restoration project for abandoned mines with identifiable responsible entities, and will serve as a valuable reference and guide for the comprehensive implementation of similar projects in the future.

It is understood that Xiangzhou County is rich in mineral resources. The 31 identified open-pit abandoned mines cover an area exceeding 34 hectares. Among the 31 mine sites classified as abandoned and with identifiable responsible parties, all are privately-owned or corporate-owned mines that have been entrusted with remediation and restoration responsibilities. These mines are located across 8 townships. Such abandoned mines not only damage the local geological environment but also create steep slopes from mountain excavation, which are highly prone to geological hazards such as collapses and landslides. Therefore, remediation efforts are urgently needed.

To fundamentally address the significant ecological and environmental issues caused by abandoned mines in Xiangzhou County, the Guangxi Hydrogeological and Engineering Geological Team was commissioned to participate in the preparation of the "Phase I Implementation Plan for the Ecological Restoration Project of Abandoned Mines with Responsible Entities in Xiangzhou County." During the field investigation phase, the project team employed a combination of drone technology, digital mapping, and sampling methods to thoroughly understand the restoration proposals put forward by landowners. At the same time, they adhered to the guiding principles of "prioritizing conservation, giving top priority to protection, and relying primarily on natural restoration," fully taking into account the natural recovery capacity of the existing mine ecosystems. In engineering design, conservation was given top priority; restoration approaches focused mainly on natural recovery with minimal human intervention. For key areas severely damaged ecologically, the team adopted management strategies that align with natural processes—such as closure and protection—and supplemented these with limited ecological reconstruction measures, thereby laying a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of the project.

The project leader stated that upon completion, the project will effectively address issues such as water and soil erosion and exposed mountain slopes in the mining area, enabling the reclaimed use of damaged land and initially achieving the goal of significantly improving both human living environments and ecosystems.