Ecological-Based Mining:A Coal-Water-Thermal Collaborative Paradigm in Ecologically Fragile Areas in Western China

A substantial reduction in groundwater level,exacerbated by coal mining activities,is intensifying water scarcity in western China’s ecologically fragile coal mining areas.China’s national strategic goal of achieving a carbon peak and carbon neutrality has made eco-friendly mining that prioritizes the protection and efficient use of water resources essential.Based on the resource characteristics of mine water and heat hazards,an intensive coal-water-thermal collaborative co-mining paradigm for the duration of the mining process is proposed.An integrated system for the production,supply,and storage of mining companion resources is achieved through technologies such as roof water inrush prevention and control,hydrothermal quality improvement,and deep-injection geological storage.An active preventive and control system achieved by adjusting the mining technology and a passive system centered on multiobjective drainage and grouting treatment are suggested,in accordance with the original geological characteristics and dynamic process of water inrush.By implementing advanced multi-objective drainage,specifically designed to address the“skylight-type”water inrush mode in the Yulin mining area of Shaanxi Province,a substantial reduction of 50%in water drillings and inflow was achieved,leading to stabilized water conditions that effectively ensure subsequent safe coal mining.An integrated-energy complementary model that incorporates the clean production concept of heat utilization is also proposed.The findings indicate a potential saving of 8419 t of standard coal by using water and air heat as an alternative heating source for the Xiaojihan coalmine,resulting in an impressive energy conservation of 50.2%and a notable 24.2%reduction in carbon emissions.The ultra-deep sustained water injection of 100 m^(3)·h^(-1)in a single well would not rupture the formation or cause water leakage,and 7.87×10^(5)t of mine water could be effectively stored in the Liujiagou Formation,presenting a viable method for mine-water management in the Ordos Basin and providing insights for green and low-carbon mining.

Influence of Reservoir on Groundwater Environment in the Ecologically Fragile Area, Northwest of China

As the research proposed reservoirs after impact on the surrounding ecological fragile areas of groundwater level and scope, through the proposed reservoir area and its surrounding data collecting, hydrogeology survey and related test, for Modflow system simulation platform, through to the boundary conditions, initial conditions and source sink term and related hydrogeological parameters, the model identification and verification, The model of hydrogeological parameters in the study area is constructed. The simulation results show that the groundwater depth near the reservoir area will be higher than the critical value (1.8 m) of secondary salinization of soil. At the same time, according to the investigation and experiment, if the reservoir does not do seepage treatment, the water infiltration in the reservoir will aggravate the environmental hydrogeological problems in the ecologically fragile area.

Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Northwestern Ecologically Fragile Desert Oasis——A case study of Guazhou County of Gansu Province

Guazhou County of Gansu Province is a typical ecological fragile area lying in the transition area of desert and oasis.The development of its agricultural economy is highly dependent on natural resources and environment.Contradiction of resources characterized agriculture and the fragile ecological environment has become one of the main barriers to log the impact of local agriculture to achieve sustainable development.Aiming at fragile ecological environment and limiting factors of agricultural sustainable development,thoughts and countermeasures of realizing agricultural sustainable development have been proposed.

A review of ecological mechanisms for management practices of protective forests

A protective forest,including shelterbelt,windbreak,and shelter forest as its synonyms,is characterized by the protective functions of various forest types distributed or planted on ecologically fragile areas or nearby the objects that need to be protected using the ecological effects of forests.Ecological mechanisms for management practices of protective forests is one of the disciplinary orientations in forest ecology and management.Most protective forest studies are dependent on forestry eco-engineering,such as the Great Plains Shelterbelt Project in the United States,the Great Plan for the Transformation of Nature in the Soviet Union,and the Three-North Afforestation Program in China.The development of sustainable management of protective forests has been given increasing attention by governments,scientists,and media due to their impacts on environment conservation and global change.We introduce forestry ecoengineering and provide a review of their main ecological mechanisms for management practices of protective forests.Ecological mechanisms for management systems currently applied are emphasized,i.e.,the theory of protection maturity and phase-directional management;the relationship between structure and protective functions and structural optimization measures;and,the decline mechanism and ecological restoration strategies.In addition,several unresolved problems in management practices of protective forests are discussed as well as the prospects for ecological mechanisms for management practices of protective forests in the future,which include:(1)theories and technologies for management practices of protective forests at the landscape or regional scale;(2)the decline mechanisms and corresponding ecological restoration approaches across multiple scales;and,(3)the comprehensive assessment of forestry eco-engineering at large-scales based on ecosystem principles.

The 3D simulation and optimized management model of groundwater systems based on eco-environmental water demand

Through the study of mutual process between groundwater systems and eco-environmental water demand, the eco-environmental water demand is brought into groundwater systems model as the important water consumption item and unification of groundwater抯 economic, environmental and ecological functions were taken into account. Based on eco-environmental water demand at Da抋n in Jilin province, a three-dimensional simulation and optimized management model of groundwater systems was established. All water balance components of groundwater systems in 1998 and 1999 were simulated with this model and the best optimal exploitation scheme of groundwater systems in 2000 was determined, so that groundwater resource was efficiently utilized and good economic, ecologic and social benefits were obtained.

Traditional agroecosystem transition in mountainous area of Three Gorges Reservoir Area

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area(TGRA)is typical of an ecologically vulnerable area,comprised of rural and mountainous areas,and with high immigration.Because of its economic and ecologic importance,studying the traditional agroecosystem changes in the TGRA is key to rural development and revitalization.In this study,we apply a framework of theoretical analysis,empirical study,and trend prediction to the Caotangxi River watershed within the TGRA.Using QuickBird high-resolution remote sensing images from 2012 to 2017 to evaluate natural resources and farmers’behavior,we analyze the transition and trends in the traditional agroecosystem in mountainous areas of the TGRA at spatial scale of the man-land relationship.We find that the agroecosystem in the TGRA can be divided into four modes using 100 m interval buffer rings:high-low-low,high-low-high,low-high-low and low-low-high mode where the different modes represent the agricultural development stages in the TGRA.Furthermore,the traditional agroecosystem in TGRA,represented by system elements such as farmers and sloping farmland,is transforming to accommodate the diversification of farmer livelihoods.For example,sloping farmland,which was dominated by a production function,now has equal emphasis on ecological and economic functions.Spatially,the range of the agroecosystem transition has migrated beyond high mountain areas to flat valley areas.Generally,this study provides an overview of land use in rural areas,controls on soil and water loss in mountainous areas,and better rural living environments in the TGRA.