To Beijing and back: A midwestern's view of Chinese mine reclamation

Dr. Zhenqi Hu of the China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, organized the 2010 "International Symposium on Low-Carbon Development and Land Reclamation Policy." The meeting was from November 20-21 in Beijing, and I was invited to present a paper at the symposium by Professor Hu. In addition, he invited me to give lectures on reclamation at his university. I also gave a lecture at Shandong Agricultural University at Tai'An, which is south of Beijing about 260 miles. I stayed in China long enough to visit mine sites near Jining and cultural venues in Beijing and near Jining, including Confucius' compound. This presentation recounts my experience visiting China and includes my observations on the similarities and differences in the American (Illinois) and Chinese approach, attitudes, and techniques in regard to mine reclamation. My presentations in China included a recap of the impact of longwall mine subsidence in Illinois. This is a still-controversial mining technique despite a near decade of research into its agricultural impacts. I also spoke on surface mine reclamation in Illinois, where many of the mines are on Prime Farmland and reclamation is held to a high crop productivity standard. The coal industry is very active in China, and their need for good reclamation is acute given their vast population and high density.