At a recent press conference under the series “High-Quality Completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan”—focused on high-quality development of natural resources—authorities in Yunnan Province announced significant progress in ecological conservation and green mining.

Over the past five years, Yunnan has deepened its commitment to ecosystem protection and restoration, reinforcing the province’s identity as a “Beautiful Green Yunnan.” Key achievements include:

• Integrated ecological restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and wetlands, with a total investment of RMB 13.2 billion.

• Implementation of two major “Integrated Ecological Protection and Restoration Projects” (commonly known as “Shan-Shui Projects”) at Fuxian Lake and Erhai Lake, restoring 228.67 square miles (146,350 acres) of watershed ecosystems.

• Creation of 13.05 square miles (83,500 acres) of new water conservation areas, enhancing regional water security and biodiversity.

The province has also systematically addressed historical environmental damage from mining. In ecologically critical zones—including the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Chishui River Basin—Yunnan has restored 160,000 acres of degraded land from abandoned mines, transforming once-scarred landscapes into thriving green spaces.

Drawing inspiration from Zhejiang’s renowned “Thousand Villages Project” (Qiancun Project), Yunnan launched six pilot programs for comprehensive rural land consolidation in counties such as Yuanjiang, Gengma, and Yuanyang, integrating ecological, agricultural, and community development.

Crucially, Yunnan has balanced mineral resource development with environmental protection by:

• Refining its Green Mine Evaluation System

• Establishing a joint creation mechanism for national- and provincial-level green mines

As a result, the province has successfully certified 77 green mines, setting a benchmark for sustainable, eco-friendly mining practices in China’s southwest.

These efforts reflect Yunnan’s broader vision: to harmonize economic growth with ecological integrity, ensuring that resource development contributes to—rather than compromises—long-term environmental health and community well-being.

(Source: Yunnan Release)