Due to the early extensive development, the geomorphic landscape, land resources, and forest vegetation have been severely damaged. Coupled with the fragile ecological environment in the plateau-mountainous areas, the ecological problems caused by abandoned mines have significantly affected the regional natural ecosystem and human settlements, thereby restricting economic and social development. In recent years, China has continued to promote the ecological restoration of mines, resulting in a marked improvement in environmental quality. However, some abandoned mines suffer from unclear restoration goals, improper management practices, and poor restoration outcomes due to insufficient investigation and inadequate comprehensive evaluation of ecological issues.

In this study, Qujing City, a typical area in the plateau-mountainous region of eastern Yunnan, was selected as the research object. We systematically analyzed the geological environmental issues caused by abandoned mines in the area, as well as the ecological and environmental conditions of the sites where these mines are located. A comprehensive evaluation of the ecological issues associated with abandoned mines within the region was conducted. The ecological issues in the mining areas in the study area have been classified into different severity levels. The assessment results indicate that areas with severe (Level I) and moderately severe (Level II) ecological problems in the abandoned mines cover a total area of 999.01 hectares, accounting for 90.18% of the total area. Among these, areas with severe ecological problems (Level I) are mainly located in Shizong, Luoping, and Fuyuan Counties along the Nanpanjiang River Basin, whereas areas with moderately severe ecological problems (Level II) are primarily found in Shizong County and Fuyuan County along the Nanpanjiang River Basin, as well as in Xuanwei City along the Beipanjiang River Basin.

Based on the comprehensive evaluation of the ecological issues associated with abandoned mines in the study area, and in conjunction with territorial spatial planning, the Nanpanjiang River Basin, which is identified as the most prominent and representative in terms of environmental problems, is prioritized. Additionally, considering the natural geographical patterns and focusing on the protection of the ecological barriers at the source of the Pearl River and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as well as addressing key ecological challenges such as soil erosion and rocky desertification, the study area is divided into four restoration zones: (1) the restoration area for water conservation and rocky desertification prevention and control in the Nanpanjiang River Basin at the source of the Pearl River; (2) the restoration area for water conservation in the Beipanjiang River Basin in the upper reaches of the Pearl River; (3) the restoration area for soil and water conservation in the Xiaojiang River Basin in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River; and (4) the restoration area for biodiversity conservation in the Niulanjiang River Basin in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

For areas classified as Type I, which face severe ecological problems, the main strategy is to carry out ecological restoration, expand forests and grasslands, and enhance the overall function and value of the ecosystem. In contrast, for areas classified as Type II and Type III, where ecological issues are relatively concentrated but less severe, the focus is on balancing development with ecological protection while meeting land use needs. By categorizing regions based on the severity of ecological problems, more precise and targeted ecological restoration measures can be proposed, thereby providing valuable reference and guidance for ecological protection and restoration in other similar plateau-mountainous areas.