Strategies and Practical Paths for Ecological Restoration and Comprehensive Management in Yulin Coal Mining Area in the New Era

Yulin city, as an important part of the Northern Shaanxi National Energy and Chemical Industry Base, has made tremendous contributions to the economic and social development of China in the past thirty years. However, the exploitation of coal resources inevitably brought mined−out area collapse, land and water resources destruction, ecological degradation, and other problems to the local eco−environment. At present, the negative effects of coal scale development continue to aggravate the destruction of water and land resources in mining areas and the decline of ecosystem toughness, which has threatened the sustainable development of Yulin’s economy and society and the long−term security of national energy resources. Over the years, Yulin coal mine area has formed a number of replicable and popularizing experiences and patterns in geological environment governance, but it still presents "five problems" predicament, such as insignificant overall effect, low fund utilization rate, high implementation resistance, limited system design, lack of top−level planning, and the diversified governance modes and the corresponding policy mechanism have not yet formed a joint force. Following this case, combining the current governance situation of coal mining area and the needs of high−quality development in rural areas, this study innovatively formed a systematic solution strategy for comprehensive treatment of Yulin coal mining area, which includes "one goal, two lines, three spaces, four patterns", considering of analyzing the current situation of ecological problems in Yulin coal mining area and the predicament and reason of ecological restoration work. Then three innovation regulations and the concrete practice path of "three−step strategy" were proposed, and a list of comprehensive treatment modes (i.e., ecological restoration +N) applicable to Yulin coal mine area was summarized. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions were put forward from the aspects of policy, technology, and management. The outcome can provide reference for the next step of systematic and overall guidance for coal mining enterprises in Yulin to carry out mine ecological protection and restoration work, and effectively promote the ecological restoration of coal mining areas to a diversified comprehensive governance direction and to a new green development pattern of social, economic, and ecological coordination.