Research progress and trend analysis of ecological restoration of metal mine wasteland in China

Implementing ecological restoration projects on mine wasteland is crucial for balancing mineral resource development and ecological preservation. Currently, research on ecological restoration focuses more on non-metallic minerals like coal, with studies on metal mining ecological restoration often concentrating on singular restoration techniques. Challenges persist, including weak specificity in key restoration technologies and lengthy recovery periods. This paper reviews the research progress in terms of the influencing factors of ecological restoration, restoration concepts and modes, ecological restoration technologies, monitoring and evaluation, and adaptive management, etc., based on briefly analyzing the main ecological and environmental problems of metal mine processing and metallurgical wasteland through the literature research method. The research indicates that the ecological restoration of metal mine wasteland is mainly affected by regional natural economic and social conditions, wasteland characteristics and the stability of wasteland ecosystems, etc.; the concept of ecological restoration of wasteland has gone through the development from static equilibrium to dynamic non-equilibrium, and has developed towards multidimensionality and complexity; the ecological restoration mode has shifted from pure ecological restoration to ecological reconstruction and sustainable development, and has emphasized on the coordination and unity of ecological, economic and social benefits, and the comprehensive management of ecological restoration. The ecological restoration mode has shifted from pure ecological recovery to ecological reconstruction and sustainable development, paying more attention to the coordination and unity of ecological, economic and social benefits, and the comprehensive management mode has gradually formed; the ecological restoration technology has experienced the evolution from basic management to the application of comprehensive technology, and in the process, the ecological engineering technology, biotechnology, physical technology and chemical technology have been gradually integrated, and a systematic restoration program has been formed. Finally, based on the current situation of monitoring and evaluation of mine ecological restoration and adaptive management research, the research outlook for ecological restoration of metal mine mining and metallurgical wasteland is proposed based on the principles of reduction, decarbonization and resource utilization.