Recently, the Department of Natural Resources and Planning of Zhejiang Province issued a notice deciding to launch a pilot program for the integrated development and utilization of mining rights and land resources. The pilot mineral types are ordinary construction sand, gravel, and clay minerals mined through open-pit operations. The pilot targets are existing or proposed mining rights whose mining activities have been completed and which can generate land suitable for construction development, with clearly defined plans for the future use of the mined land.

　　Integrated development and utilization of mining areas refers to a resource management and development model in which the holder of an open-pit mining right undertakes unified planning, comprehensive development, and efficient utilization of both the mineral resources within the mining area’s boundaries and the land resources formed after mining operations.

　　It is reported that the pilot program will leverage Zhejiang Province's abundant sand and gravel resources and its advantageous mountainous terrain. By optimizing resource allocation, refining development layouts, improving development models, and enhancing management approaches, the program will create new development space for strategies such as rural revitalization, new-type urbanization, and the development of green industries, and explore a new path for integrated mineral-resource and land development.

　　The Zhejiang Provincial Department has clarified the pilot encouragement policies: For pilot mining rights that have favorable conditions for integrated development and utilization of mining areas but have not been included in the mineral resource planning, those located within planned mining zones may have their mining plans retroactively adjusted to designate new mining blocks; those situated within planned restricted mining zones may have their planning adjusted accordingly. These mining rights will not be subject to total quota controls. If they meet the conditions for negotiated transfer of mining rights, they may be transferred via negotiation. Furthermore, based on the final land-use plan following the completion of mineral extraction, if it is determined that no slope stabilization measures are required, the mine geological environment governance and restoration fund need not be deposited. Such mining rights will also enjoy relevant land-use policies.