Illegal mining continues despite repeated bans; the Qilian Mountains have become an ecological \"black hole\"”

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It’s horrifying: The Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve serves as the “source of life” for over 5 million people living in the five cities along the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, as well as in downstream areas such as Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. It also functions as a vital ecological barrier for China’s northwestern region and constitutes a key section of the Silk Road. 　　However, in recent interviews conducted in the Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve by reporters from the Economic Reference News, it was found that endless prospecting and mining activities, \"predatory\" grazing practices, construction of tourism projects without prior approval, and the gradual establishment of small hydropower projects have placed an unbearable strain on the fragile ecosystem of the Qilian Mountains. Some of the localized damage is now irreversible, with huge ecological \"black holes\" lurking behind these issues” ； With climate warming, the snow line is rising and glaciers are melting at an accelerated pace, posing an imminent crisis to the survival and development of areas downstream. 　　Overexploitation of the mining industry damages permafrost. The Qilian Mountains stretch 800 kilometers from east to west, of which 650 kilometers lie within the Sunan Yugur Autonomous County of Zhangye City, Gansu Province. According to the land and resources department of Sunan County, the conflict between ecological protection and economic development is currently very acute. At the end of 2014, following the redrawing of the ecological function areas in the Qilian Mountains, mineral exploitation in the core areas was completely halted. However, mining enterprises located in the buffer and experimental areas are still operating, while new mining rights are prohibited within the protected areas. Some officials said that with the decline in mineral resource development, Sunan might face a situation where it is unable to pay wages. 　　The revenue generated from the exploitation of mineral resources in Sunan County once accounted for over 80% of the county’s total fiscal income. Restricted by ecological protection measures, the scale of development has decreased significantly in the past two years, yet it still accounted for half of the county’s lower-volume fiscal revenue in 2014. 　　It is understood that in the 1990s, there were over 300 mining enterprises in Sunan; after cleanup and consolidation, only more than 60 remained, of which over half are located in buffer zones, while the rest are in experimental areas and newly designated peripheral zones. However, according to the Regulations on the Management of **-Level Nature Reserves in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu, mineral exploitation is not permitted in either the experimental area or the buffer zone. 　　“Most of the mining enterprises currently in operation are established companies; some of them have expired permits and are in the process of obtaining new ones. ”Peng Jiting, deputy director of the Environmental Protection and Forestry Bureau of Sunan County, said. 　　The mineral development area located on the north side of Lenghuangling, the main peak of the Qilian Mountains at the border between Gansu and Qinghai provinces, falls within the core zone of the **-level nature reserve in the Qilian Mountains. However, ecological damage caused by mineral extraction in this area is extremely severe. Among them, Dongfeng Mining, located in Qinghai Province, continues to operate without any signs of dismantling or removing its residential and office buildings, as well as its large-scale mining equipment, despite the fact that its destructive mining activities have led to extensive ecological damage and such operations have been explicitly banned. Some officials believe that, in order to promote development, the local authorities remain cautious about mining. Some companies have also installed surveillance equipment and solar street lights, thereby improving their infrastructure; this shows that there is still a trend toward large-scale mining. 　　The reporter drove to the border between Gansu and Qinghai and entered the core area of the Qilian Mountain **-level nature reserve (within Qinghai). There, a mountain road with a width of about 5 meters and a length of over 50 kilometers ran through areas of shrubs and trees, grasslands, and river valleys. At an altitude of over 3,800 meters, there were several slopes damaged as a result of road construction – the grass had been removed and the underlying rocks were exposed. The excavated gravel was then laid directly on the original meadow to form roads that led all the way to the mining sites deep within the core area. 　　At the Dongfeng Mining site, located at an altitude of over 3,700 meters, large amounts of waste rock have covered the vegetation on the surface. Portable housing units for the mine managers have been built in the gullies, and heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers are parked outside those housing units. Iron ore that has not yet been transported is piled up not far from the housing units. “Mining at this mine site has been suspended for several months, and the boss has asked us to stay here on duty to watch over the equipment and the mine site. ”The mine site caretaker explained. 　　According to a report prepared by the Lanzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences following investigations into the roads and mining activities in this area, the roads built within the core zone involve disturbing the original soil layers on steep mountain slopes. They were not constructed in accordance with the standards applicable to road projects in ecologically fragile areas; efforts were not made to minimize damage to the native vegetation, nor was any action taken to restore the original soil cover. Although mining in this area is currently suspended, past activities such as prospecting, mining, transportation, and waste disposal have led to the removal of vegetation and the accumulation of mining waste. In particular, open-pit mining involves the removal of large amounts of topsoil, which not only destroys the original natural landscape and covers up surface vegetation but also leads to collapses and soil erosion, triggering geological disasters ； Moreover, it generates harmful waste and wastewater, leading to water quality degradation and environmental pollution. 　　**“Zhang Tingjun, a specially-appointed professor under the \"Thousand Talents Program\" and dean of the School of Resources and Environment at Lanzhou University, explained that mineral exploitation causes damage to the ecology of the Qilian Mountains in three main ways: First, permafrost layers serve as natural reservoirs that have formed over time; mining not only damages the areas around the mines, but it also triggers geological disasters on the surface as a result of the impact on the underground permafrost, leading to widespread desertification that is irreversible. Secondly, the dust generated by mining also reduces the reflectivity of snow and ice. Once this reflectivity decreases, ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the snow cover and glaciers, thereby accelerating their melting. Thirdly, the exploitation of mineral resources in protected areas destroys biodiversity and disrupts the existing food chains; \"uncontrolled human activities will drive some animals away from these areas, and without their natural predators, the organisms at the bottom of the food chain will pose a serious threat to the grasslands.\" ”　　“\"Predatory\" grazing exacerbates grassland degradation. There are 35 towns and villages with a population of 142,000 people in the Qilian Mountains **-level nature reserve, and a large number of farmers and herders still live in its core area. Reporters from the Economic Reference News found during interviews in the remote areas of the Qilian Mountains that conflicts between farmers and herders, as well as between forestry and livestock farming, are severe. Issues such as land reclamation for farming and \"predatory\" grazing continue to occur despite repeated attempts to curb them, resulting in a vicious cycle. 　　In Sunan County, the reporter observed significant degradation of the grasslands, with parts of the ground exposed. “As I remember from my childhood, once a cow got lost in the bushes on the grasslands; it was impossible to find it. In many places the grass was so thick that walking there would wet one’s clothes. Nowadays, however, the bushes have deteriorated severely – many of the trees have died, and it’s really heartbreaking to see that. ”Chang Haixia, a representative from Ren and a herder from Sunan County who has lived at the foot of the Qilian Mountains since childhood, told the reporter. 　　In Minle County, Gansu Province, at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, the reporter saw that arable land had extended as far as the boundary fence located at the base of the mountains ； At the Zhongnongfa Shandan Horse Farm, large herds of sheep are grazing on the grasslands. According to Li Hongfu, a retired official from the Shandan Horse Farm of China Agricultural Development Group, when the farm was under military control, there were clear regulations regarding grazing: on 1,000 mu of pasture land, 140 to 150 sheep or 60 to 70 cows were allowed. Nowadays, on the same 1,000 mu of pasture land, there are often 300 to 400 sheep or 150 to 160 cows. “\"Predatory grazing\" has severely damaged the ecology of grasslands. 　　Overgrazing has a more direct impact on the degradation of grasslands. Zhang Tingjun explained that without the shade provided by grass, the evaporation rate of the few dozen centimeters thick layer of humus increases sharply, which in turn leads to the degradation of the permafrost layer beneath it. 　　Agricultural and pastoral production has a diverse historical background regarding the damage it causes to the ecology of the Qilian Mountains. One category is the Shandan Horse Farm, which is of state-owned nature; after being transferred from the military to local authorities, it is currently under the jurisdiction of the China Agri-Development Group. Its employees are mainly engaged in agricultural and pastoral production, but due to poor living conditions and limited production resources, and since the grasslands are allocated to individuals before employees retire, \"predatory\" grazing is widespread in an effort to increase income. 　　Another group consists of herders who have lived here for generations; since **the policy incentives for grasslands favor areas with severe grassland degradation, overgrazed regions end up being the ones that receive priority support from these policy funds. “In some areas, as long as there are 4 grass plants per square meter, it can be classified as a grassland, allowing the owners to benefit from relevant subsidies and incentives for grasslands; this undoubtedly makes the herders who are responsible for protecting these grasslands feel it is unfair. ”said Chen Xingpeng, a professor at the Institute of Human Geography, School of Resources and Environment, Lanzhou University. 　　Construction of tourism projects without prior approval puts additional strain on the ecosystem. The snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and alpine grasslands in the Qilian Mountains have extremely fragile ecosystems; yet, some areas still proceed with the blind expansion of new tourism facilities ； The Heihe River, Shule River, and Shiyan River, which originate in the Qilian Mountains, are the three main water systems in the Hexi Corridor. However, due to the lack of unified management, a large number of small hydropower projects have been established one after another. Some experts who have long studied the ecology of the Qilian Mountains, as well as officials from the management departments, are very concerned about this. 　　In accordance with the regulations on nature reserves, all production activities are prohibited in the experimental area of the **-level Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve. However, a reporter from the Economic Reference News saw a different scene beside the Xidahe Reservoir in Yongchang County, Gansu Province: luxurious wooden cottages had already been built there, paths wound along the edge of the reservoir, and several workers were paving an asphalt surface in the small square next to the cottages. 　　According to construction workers, this place is set to become a tourist attraction. Guo Chengkui, the head of the Xidahe Reservoir Management Office at the Yongchang County Water Affairs Bureau, told reporters that the Xidahe Reservoir is under the management of Yongchang County, but the area surrounding the reservoir falls under the jurisdiction of the Zhongnongfa Shandan Horse Farm; the development of this scenic area should be a business attraction project for the horse farm. “We tried to stop it too, but it was useless. ”　　The reporter learned from the relevant departments that in 2011, the Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission only approved the feasibility study report for this scenic area; other approval procedures were not completed, and the project was constructed without proper authorization. 　　Some experts who have long studied the ecology of the Qilian Mountains, as well as officials from the management departments, are very concerned about the development of small hydropower projects and tourism initiatives. They explained that the lack of unified management of water resources leads to an increase in groundwater levels downstream of hydropower stations, which can cause soil salinization. The development of tourism projects not only causes damage during construction, but also exacerbates the long-term impact of human activities in ecological protection areas. 　　Another issue worthy of attention is that the Qiyi Glacier, located deep in the Qilian Mountains, is melting at an accelerating rate. Research conducted by the **Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science** at the Institute of Environment and Engineering in Cold and Arid Regions, Chinese Academy of Sciences, shows that under the backdrop of climate warming, glaciers in western China have shown an increasingly pronounced trend of retreat over the past few decades. To determine the retreat pattern of Qiyi Glacier, experts from the Institute of Environmental and Engineering Research in Cold and Arid Regions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used handheld GPS devices to collect data on the glacier’s terminus boundary at two different times in August 2012 and August 2013; they found that the terminus of this glacier retreated by approximately 5 to 7 meters over the course of a year. As the climate continues to warm, it is foreseeable that glacier melting will intensify, and the trend of glacier retreat will continue. 　　Experts say that the Qilian Mountains contain 80% of the water in the Hexi Corridor, and merely global warming could cause most of the small glaciers in these mountains to melt away by 2050. And human activities will accelerate permafrost degradation. At that time, over 5 million people in the Hexi Corridor and its downstream areas will be deprived of their water supply. 　　Unified deployment enables cross-regional governance. Ecological damage is difficult to reverse, and local development faces various constraints. Around a Qilian Mountain, conflicts among stakeholders are prominent. Some experts and local officials argue that the ecological management of the Qilian Mountains is not only related to the local environment but also involves the role of these areas as ecological security barriers; therefore, top-level planning should be strengthened to transform \"stakeholders\" into a \"community with a shared future.\" 　　Mineral extraction, scenic area development, grassland degradation, and glacier melting – behind these phenomena that seemingly affect local ecosystems – there is no consideration for the balance between population, resources, and the environment, nor for the integration of economic, social, and ecological benefits. To properly handle the relationship between economic development and ecological protection, it is essential to firmly establish the concept that protecting the ecological environment means protecting productivity, and improving the ecological environment means developing productivity. Some experts and local officials have suggested raising awareness of the ecological red lines in protected areas, easing the constraints on local GDP assessments, improving the ecological compensation mechanisms, and establishing a governance model of \"large-scale protected areas\" for regions that are crucial to ecological security. 　　First, establish the ownership of peripheral areas at an early stage, so as to provide a solid guarantee for ecological protection through strict systems. Pei Wen, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Management Bureau of the **-level Nature Reserve in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu, and others argued that the demarcation of the ecological protection areas in the Qilian Mountains must adhere strictly to the ecological red lines, and ecological resources should not be sacrificed easily for local economic interests. Some projects such as mineral exploitation and tourism, which were previously located in restricted development areas, have been moved to the peripheral zones. However, it is still unclear who will be responsible for managing these areas and how they should be managed, posing significant risks; therefore, it is necessary to determine as soon as possible who is accountable for these peripheral zones and what the rules for their protection are. 　　Second, it is necessary to change the assessment methods for local authorities in ecologically fragile areas, eliminate the GDP-based evaluation system, and improve the assessment framework for economic and social development. Some officials in Zhangye City believe that ecological products represent a form of contribution as well. When economic development comes at the expense of environmental damage, it is necessary to emphasize the role of local authorities in ecological protection; meanwhile, enhancing the capacity to produce ecological products should be regarded as an important criterion for evaluating local authorities in such functional areas. 　　Third, improve the existing ecological compensation mechanism. Some grassroots officials believe that, in terms of the incentive mechanism for grasslands, the approach of compensating based on the area of grasslands should be replaced with one that compensates according to the population of farmers and herders, while also taking into account the effectiveness of grassland protection. According to statistics, as many as 142,000 people currently live within the Qilian Mountain Nature Reserve alone. Considering living habits and ethnic characteristics, a complete relocation is not very practical. To this end, a portion of the young and middle-aged people can be converted into ecological conservation workers, allowing them to shift from resource consumers to resource protectors, while older farmers and herders can be settled in designated areas. 　　Fourth, based on geographical boundaries, the jurisdiction of protected areas is redetermined, and a \"large-scale protection area\" management model is implemented. Experts such as Chen Xingpeng believe that although the Qilian Mountains form part of the same ecosystem, they fall under the administrative jurisdiction of Gansu and Qinghai provinces respectively. “Gansu applies the standards for **-level protected areas, while Qinghai uses the standards for provincial-level protected areas; in some cases, the division is even made at mid-mountain, which is highly unscientific and makes management difficult.” ”Chen Xingpeng suggested that, based on ecological and geographical boundaries, administrative constraints should be overcome; unified planning and management at the ** level should be implemented, and cross-regional management and enforcement agencies should be established to jointly protect the Qilian Mountains. 　　Fifth, accelerate the initiation and implementation of the ecological environment protection and comprehensive management plan for the water conservation areas in the Qilian Mountains. Some members of the Political Consultative Conference and the People’s Congress have suggested that the implementation of the \"Plan for the Ecological Environment Protection and Comprehensive Management of the Qilian Mountains Water Source Conservation Area,\" which was approved by the **Development and Reform Commission in 2013, should be accelerated. Projects for the ecological environment protection and comprehensive management of this area should be launched as soon as possible. By carrying out a range of key projects aimed at ecological restoration and comprehensive management, such as wetland protection and restoration projects, soil and water conservation initiatives, biodiversity protection efforts, and the development of scientific and technological support systems, urgent measures can be taken to protect the ecological environment of the Qilian Mountains. 　　It is understood that Gansu Province has formed a joint inspection team led by the Provincial Department of Land and Resources and the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection. Members of this team include the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, the Provincial Department of Water Resources, the Provincial Forestry Department, the Administration Bureau of the Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve at the ** level in Gansu, as well as representatives from Zhangye, Jinchang, and Wuwei cities. This team is conducting a thorough investigation into various projects within the Qilian Mountains Nature Reserve at the ** level, including mineral resource exploration and development, construction of tourist attractions, and efforts to combat grassland degradation. They are also identifying and addressing any issues present in Gansu Province. 　　Gansu Province stated that it will take proactive measures regarding the problems that have been identified, implement a strict accountability system in accordance with the principle of local management, and address each one of them accordingly ； Those who damage the ecological environment must be held strictly accountable and dealt with severely to ensure the protection of the ecological safety in the Qilian Mountains conservation area.