Recently, five great crested grebes, recognized as national level-II protected species, gracefully flew to Yanbao Energy’s Baorixile Mine 715 Reclamation and Greening Zone which became their new habitat. Pristine water quality and lush vegetation are primary requirements for great crested grebe’s habitat, and their presence is the best testament to the effectiveness of the Company’s ecological restoration, marking the gradual transformation of this former industrial site into an ecologically harmonious and beautiful habitat.

At dawn, the artificial lake within the reclaimed zone shimmers like a vast mirror, glittering in the morning sunshine. An elegant pair of great crested grebes lead their three chicks, swimming freely on the glassy surface of the lake. They occasionally dive swiftly into the water to catch fish and shrimp or rest among the grass to groom their feathers. Their dark gray, metallic-glossed backs make the surrounding verdant vegetation and crystal clear waters complement each other, depicting a harmonious scene that blends natural ecology with coordinated development of industrial civilization.

The five great crested grebes have made their home in a 30,000-square-meter artificial lake that was once part of Baorixile’s mine dump, a site transformed through ecological restoration over the past fifteen years. By reshaping terrain, improving soil, and rebuilding vegetation, the area currently boasts a 1.1 million-square-meter ecological demonstration zone including lakes, picnic areas, and nursery plantations. In terrain reshaping, Yanbao Energy employed advanced engineering technologies, following six steps—disposal, shaping, covering, planting, irrigating, and nurturing—to modify the terrain for better drainage and vegetation growth, laying a solid foundation for subsequent ecological recovery. Innovative techniques were introduced to enrich the soil—planting leguminous species like sweet clover and clover, and conducting a Biological Carbon Sequestration-Soil Architecture Collaborative Reconstruction Technology Research Demonstration project utilizing microalgae biological carbon sequestration technology for microalgae-based active-fertilizers and algal crusts, which significantly improved soil fertility and structure, reviving the once barren land. Vegetation restoration was equally vigorous. The Company collaborated with research institutes to form a technical support team, selecting 7 shrub and 14 herbaceous species suited to local climate and soil conditions for large-scale planting. Over years of dedicated efforts, the former mine dump has been transformed into a vibrant ecological oasis, consisting of wetlands, grasslands, and forests, attracting not only national level-II protected species such as great crested grebe and common coot, but also more than 20 species of migratory waterbirds, including swan, hern, and graylag.

From a once desolate and open mine dump to a lush reclaimed zone planted with trees, flowers, and grass, which is an attraction and home to waterfowl, the transformation vividly demonstrates Yanbao Energy’s unwavering commitment to the philosophy that “l(fā)ucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. Today, the reclaimed area boasts 100% vegetation coverage, standing as a paradigm of ecological restoration in alpine regions and contributing to the protection of the environment and harmonious coexistence between man and nature.