The false promises of coal exploitation: How mining affects herdsmen well-being in the grassland ecosystems of Inner Mongolia |
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Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, Beijing 100083, China;2. School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, Beijing 100083, China;3. Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China;1. Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China;2. MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;3. Xi''an Research Institute of China Coal Technology & Engineering Group Corp, Xi''an 710054, China;4. China coal Shaanxi Yulin Energy & Chemical Co., Ltd., Yulin 719000, China;5. Water and Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China |
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Abstract: | The grasslands of Inner Mongolia are not only the source of the necessary resources for the survival and development of herdsmen, but also represent a significant green ecological barrier in North China. Coal-mining production is important in maintaining GDP growth in Inner Mongolia. However, over-exploitation has created serious problems, such as pollution of the environment and significant decreases in grassland ecosystem services, in addition to impacting the well-being of herdsmen and other humans. Based on questionnaires survey performed among 864 herdsmen addressing the relationship between coal exploitation in grasslands and human well-being in Xilinguole League in Inner Mongolia, we found that (1) coal resource exploitation in these grasslands does not benefit the herdsmen by increasing their income; (2) the rapid development of this resource has not obviously materially improved the life of the herdsmen; and (3) these activities have increased the risks that herdsman will have to endure in the future. Overall, coal resource exploitation in grasslands has more negative than positive effects on the well-being of herdsmen. We propose the conservation of coal resources and improvement of ecological compensation should be carried out without blindly pursuing economic growth, instead of focusing on economic development and structural adjustments. |
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Keywords: | Coal exploitation Inner Mongolia Herdsman well-being Questionnaire survey Compensation Ecosystem services |
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