Over the past few decades, China has encountered a pronounced escalation in mining operations, precipitating many environmental and ecological complexities. These challenges have catalyzed endeavors aimed at the rehabilitation of mining sites. Despite the nation's rapid industrial advancement, environmental deterioration, characterized by soil erosion, land subsidence, and water contamination, remains pervasive. Restoration endeavors in mining regions are aimed at mitigating environmental harm, restoring landscapes, and fostering sustainable land usage. In this review, we investigate the multifaceted strategies employed by China to mitigate environmental damage, restore landscapes, and foster sustainable land utilization in mining regions. Government policies, regulations, and incentive programs underscore a commitment to international environmental objectives through restoration initiatives. The discussion encompasses afforestation, wetland restoration, and water treatment techniques employed in China, which have led to ecosystem revitalization, improved air and water quality, and socio-economic benefits for communities. Nonetheless, restoring mining areas in China presents complex challenges, stemming from the scale of restoration required and various socio-economic factors. Continued investment, collaboration, and perseverance are essential for the success of these restoration endeavors. China's initiatives in the restoration of mining areas underscore its dedication to environmental sustainability, shedding light on the complex nature of such endeavors. Consequently, we stress the significance of embracing responsible mining practices and highlight the global relevance of China's experiences in land reclamation and ecological rehabilitation.

Biocrust has many ecological roles and the potential for land restoration. Major obstacles to biocrust inoculation in degraded areas are the low physical stability of soil and the frequent wet-dry cycle. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology, a sand fixation technique, can increase soil stability and decrease soil evaporation. However, it is unclear what the ecological influence of MICP treatment is under the harsh environmental stress. We hypothesized that MICP-treated soil could support biocrust establishment by moderating soil disturbance and improving water retention to mitigate frequent wet-dry cycles. To verify this hypothesis, we prepared cyanobacterial biocrusts (Oscillatoria tenuis) on bare soil and on MICP-treated soil (Sporosarcina pasteurii) and cultivated them for 40 days under high- and low-frequency rainfall. We also simulated disturbance at zero, half, or equal (0, 75, and 150 kJ) the intensity of field conditions during the cultivation. Generalized linear modeling revealed that cyanobacterial biocrust with MICP treatment had high wind erosion resistance but had low indicators of biocrust growth. We also found that MICP treatment facilitated the reduction in chlorophyll content by frequent rainfall and that MICP treatment and physical disturbance had no clear interacting effects on biocrust properties. In summary, our study found MICP treatment could hinder rather than support the cyanobacterial biocrust establishment under the frequent watering and heavy disturbance. Our finding suggests that the appropriate combination of rehabilitation techniques depends on the environmental characteristics of the target area.

Phosphogypsum (PG), phosphate sludge (PS), and sewage sludge (SS) are regarded by-products produced in huge amounts. However, PG, PS and SS are no longer considered as waste, but as valued resources in accordance with the circular economy's rules. Their management provides a serious environmental problem. In order to assess the impacts of SS, PS, and PG on soil physico-chemical parameters (pH, EC, OM, nutrients, and heavy metals) in response to diverse experimental settings, the purpose of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis on previously published results. The VOSviewer program was used to construct bibliometric maps using the VOS mapping and grouping techniques. The findings indicated that there were statistically significant changes (P < 0.05) in electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), and pH in connection to the different by-products employed. The application of SS considerably elevated pH by 46.15% compared to the control. Furthermore, a beneficial effect on P and K was detected, regardless of the by-product used. Moreover, Cd, Pb, and Ni concentrations in SS treatments had a substantial reduction of 30.46%, 30.70%, and 18.07%, respectively. Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations in PG treatments revealed a substantial decrease of 47.71%, 36.14%, and 46.01%, respectively. Based on the acquired data, PG, PS, and SS need to be regularly monitored and regulated. This study serves as an early investigation for the construction of a new approach to restore damaged land on mine sites by employing phosphate industry by-products and sludge for revegetation objectives.

For six decades the African Journal of Range & Forage Science and its precursors have contributed to understanding drivers of rangeland degradation and development of approaches for restoration of damage by grazing, mining and other forms of land use. Of the 857 articles selected by the keyword search, only around 150 focused on reversing loss of natural capital, including soil, water and biodiversity and or resilience, and were cited in this review. Restoration approaches ranged from grazing management such as resting, rotational grazing and grazing intensification, to interventions such as burning, browsing and clearing of encroaching woody or non-native plants, resource capture, reseeding and replanting. Global change brings novel challenges for restoration research. Major knowledge gaps include assessment of restoration progress, development of policy and incentives to promote and fund restoration, and identification of unintended risks posed by restoration interventions.

Non-technical summary To address the issues of declining groundwater levels and the degradation of soil ecological functions caused by open-pit coal mining in China. Based on theoretical analysis, laboratory experiments, on-site monitoring, mathematical modeling, and other means, the concept of coal ecological protection mining of 'damage reduction mining, three-dimensional protection, systematic restoration' is proposed. The mining concept has achieved remarkable ecological restoration effects, leading the scientific and technological progress of safe, efficient and green mining in open-pit coal mines. Technical summary The mechanism of damage propagation among 'rock-soil-water' ecological elements in open-pit coal mining was revealed. Adopting comprehensive damage-reducing mining technology throughout the entire stripping process, mining and drainage, shengli open-pit coal mine has doubled its production capacity, and reduced the land excavation and damage by 60 mu/year, reduced the mining area by 1,128 mu, and raised the groundwater level by 2.6-6 m, and the ecological restoration of the drainage field was advanced by more than 1 year. Adopting the three-dimensional water storage technology involves underground reservoirs, aquifer reconstruction, and near-surface distributed water storage units, baorixile open-pit mine has built the world's first open-pit underground water reservoir, with a water storage capacity of 1.22 million m(3), and the speed of groundwater level restoration has been increased by more than 70%. By adopting the systematic restoration technology of geomorphology-soil-vegetation in the discharge site, the soil water content in the demonstration area has been increased by 52%, the survival rate of plants has been increased by 34%, and the vegetation coverage has been increased by more than 40%. Social media summary Damage-reducing mining and systematic ecological restoration in open-pit coal mining are essential for the safe, efficient and green development of coal.

Mining plays a central role in the global economy, making a substantial contribution to export earnings. Nevertheless, implementing sustainable mining practices that prioritise environmental responsibility during extraction remains a major challenge. In response, governments around the world have instituted policies, with the primary aim of promoting sustainable mining practices and preserving the ecosystem for future generations. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, mining operations continue to cause substantial ecological damage, marked by the transformation of landscapes and the fragmentation of ecosystems. Although regulations exist for the rehabilitation of areas degraded by mining activities, many technical aspects, particularly in relation to open-pit mining, remain poorly defined. In this article, we propose an in-depth look at a 'green' approach rooted in reclamation through revegetation-based techniques to address this critical issue. Although there are challenges such as species selection and harsh environmental conditions, revegetation and remediation techniques for reclamation offer many benefits, including soil enrichment, habitat restoration and promoting the recovery of local biodiversity. In addition, emerging technologies, such as nanomaterials, have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving soil fertility. They enable effective and long-term rehabilitation of soils disturbed by mining activities. Despite the considerable environmental impact associated with mining, the implementation of these innovative techniques promises to produce positive results and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the mining sector. By adopting environmentally friendly practices and constantly improving reclamation strategies, the mining industry can strive to reduce its ecological footprint and ensure a more sustainable future for itself and the surrounding ecosystems.

The study explores the aftermath of a wastewater reservoir failure in a phosphate fertilizer industry, resulting in the release of acidic water containing phosphorus and sulfate compounds into the Ashalim stream's Nature Reserve in the Judean desert, which affected the soil surface biological crusts (biocrusts) layer. The study aims to examine contamination effects on biocrusts over 3 years at two research sites along the stream, compare effects between contaminated sites, assess rehabilitation treatments, and examine their impact on soil characteristics. Hypotheses suggest significant damage to biocrusts due to acidic water flow, requiring human intervention for accelerated restoration. The results indicate adverse effects on biocrust properties, risking its key role in the desert ecosystem. The biocrust layer covering the stream's ground surface suffered significant physical, chemical, and biological damage due to exposure to industrial process effluents. However, soil enrichment treatments, including biocrust components and organic material, show promising effects on biocrust recovery.

Rehabilitation following open-cast mining aims to build a long-term functional and sustainable soil cover for a stable landscape development. The objective of this study was to assess changes in soil recovery of rehabilitation performed at different times (1980, 1998, 2009, 2016, 2017) measured as soil hydraulic and mechanical properties (shear stress) at an open-cast Yallourn mine site in south-east Australia (Victoria) in 2021. Soil hydraulic properties (SHP) were determined using the extended evaporation method and the water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves were fitted using the van Genuchten-Mualem model. The vane shear tests were performed at two depths (0-8 and 10-18 cm) combined with soil water content measurements. The results of the SHP showed a shift in the soil water retention curve when comparing 1980 and 2017 sites. While the saturated water content i.e., total porosity was the same, the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) decreased from 36.7 to 1.02 cm day-1, respectively. This was mostly connected to the textural pore size distribution, as large differences in clay and sand content among the sites were observed. The vane shear test showed also large differences with rehabilitated sites indicating a larger variation compared to the reference site (exception 2016 site) and having generally higher shear resistances. The observed small-scale heterogeneity of the rehabilitated soils is most likely explained by soil heterogeneity and disturbance due to excavation activities and rehabilitation as well as availability of uniform soil material. Inevitable heterogeneity of the soil hydraulic and mechanical properties should be taken into consideration during the design and construction of various landforms as well as when implementing soil monitoring schemes.

The internal replacement pipe (IRP) is a developing trenchless system utilised for restoring buried steel and castiron legacy pipelines. It is crucial to ensure that this advanced system is appropriately designed to reinstate the functionality of damaged pipelines effectively and safely. The present paper investigates the structural response of IRP systems used in repairing pipelines with circumferential discontinuities subjected to seasonal temperature changes. Analytical and numerical approaches verified via experimental data and available closed-form solutions were implemented to analyse a total of 180 linear and nonlinear finite element (FE) simulations. A set of analytical expressions was developed to describe the loading and induced responses of the system. Based on an extensive FE parametric study, five modification factors were derived and applied to developed analytical expressions to characterise the structural response incorporating the effects of soil friction. Results showed that there is a major difference between the results of linear and nonlinear analyses highlighting the importance of including the material nonlinearities in the FE analysis. A significant difference was observed between the discontinuity openings with and without the consideration of soil friction implying that appropriate inclusion of soil friction in the FE model is crucial to get realistic system responses subjected to temperature change. Although the application of IRP holds immense promise as a trenchless solution for rehabilitating legacy pipelines, the lack of established design procedures and standards for these technologies has restricted their application in gas pipelines. Results obtained from numerical and analytical models developed in the present research will provide valuable insights for the design and development of safe and efficient IRP systems urgently needed in the pipeline industry.

Rerounding is a technique for remediating excess deflection in thermoplastic pipe. A pneumatic device vibrates along the vertical axis and pushes against the inside crown and invert to restore the original pipe shape and redistribute the surrounding backfill. A systematic evaluation of the method was justified because rerounding is routinely used by contractors to remediate deflected thermoplastic pipes, and it has not been investigated outside of a few previous reports. Three 900-mm and two 450-mm corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes were installed in various bedding and backfill materials. Test pipes were intentionally installed with substantial deflection (10% or more) and then rerounded. The pipe conditions were measured and monitored by collecting profiles, measuring vertical deflections, and monitoring soil pressure, soil stiffness, backfill characteristics, and pipe corrugation depth before and after rerounding. The data from the deflection, soil stiffness, corrugation, and soil pressure monitoring confirmed the following: (1) during rerounding, soil particles migrated and soil pressure was redistributed; fine material from the crown and springline moved down toward the haunch area, at least in the well-graded aggregate backfill; (2) it is difficult to successfully reduce deflection in corrugated HDPE pipes in well-graded aggregate backfill; (3) installing the pipes with excess deflection proved a significant challenge, as all the pipes required much effort to reach sufficient deflection. It proved necessary to create a device to hold the pipe in a deflected state during backfilling; (4) rerounding successfully reduces deflections for pipes in sand backfill; and (5) test pipes backfilled with Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Type-3 backfill were easy to reround, but a change in environmental conditions and/or dynamic loading may create a change in the stress path leading to excessive deflection and reversal of the effects of rerounding.