China restored and treated 223,333 hectares of historically abandoned mines during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, surpassing the target set for the period by nearly 20 percent, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Thursday.

Over the past five years, the country established 68 ecological restoration pilot projects for historically abandoned mines nationwide, promoting a restoration approach that combines central government guidance, local implementation, and social participation.

Through this approach, more than 18,000 abandoned mines were restored, eliminating nearly 7,000 geological safety hazards, treating over 16,667 hectares of slopes and mining pits, creating 1,733 hectares of new arable and orchard land, and adding 10,000 hectares of new forest, grassland, and wetland areas.

These efforts have effectively improved the ecological environment and living conditions in mining areas while enhancing the utilization value of land damaged and abandoned by mining activities.

China, with its abundant mineral resources and long history of development and utilization, faces a significant challenge in restoring and managing its numerous historically abandoned mines. A nationwide survey conducted in 2021 identified 420,000 hectares of historical mines in need of restoration.