A framework for rural spatial governance based on the eco-environment oriented development mode: The case of coal mining subsidence area on the Weibei Plateau

Abstract

The eco-environment-oriented development (EOD) mode is an innovative project organization and implementation approach that integrates ecological governance, industrial operations, and regional development. However, this mode still requires more in-depth research to strengthen its applicability to spatial perspectives and rural patterns. This study contributes to this context by proposing a rural spatial governance framework based on the EOD mode, focusing on the three main governance elements: space, capital, and subject. By constructing a conceptual model of the multidimensional governance effectiveness of EOD systems, it reveals the coupling mechanisms of three rural elements and proposes governance modes with spatially integrated optimization, capital value circulation, and rural subject connection as the focus of elemental regulation. This mode is further demonstrated through instantiation. In response to the developmental dilemmas of the villages’ overall decline owing to coal mining subsidence on the Weibei Plateau, an integrated transformation plan for production, living, and ecological spaces is formulated, based on which the stage-specific focuses are clarified in the holistic governance path of “space-capital-subject”. The research findings exemplify the application value and feasibility in regulating element relationships and balancing multiple benefits and can provide a reference at the spatial level to promote rural sustainable development through ecological governance.

Keywords

EOD mode / Rural spatial governance / Spatial transformation / Governance path / Coal mining subsidence area / Weibei plateau

References

[1] Adu-Acheampong, S. , Kyei-Mensah, C. , Kyerematen, R. , et al., 2022. Climate change adaptation: an ecosystem-based approach for livelihood improvement of fringe communities around Worobong South Forest Reserve in Ghana. J. Forestry. Res. 2022, 1- 9.

[2] Allen, C. , Malekpour, S. , Mintrom, M. , 2023. Cross-scale, cross-level and multi-actor governance of transformations toward the Sustainable Development Goals: a review of common challenges and solutions. Sustain. Dev. 31 (3), 1250- 1267.

[3] Alves, P.B.R. , Djordjević, S. , Javadi, A.A. , 2022. Understanding the NEEDS for ACTING: an integrated framework for applying nature-based solutions in Brazil. Water Sci. Technol. 85 (4), 987- 1010.

[4] Chang, Q. , Wang, Z. , Wu, Z. , 1993. Land resource evaluation and development on the Weibei Highland. J. Northwest For. Univ. (S1), 50-55 (in Chinese).

[5] Chen, Y. , 2019. Spatial Governance Reform in Transformation Period. Southeast University Press, Nanjing (in Chinese).

[6] Cheng, H. , Tian, S. , Zhou, L. , et al., 2021. Evolution and Regulation of "Ecological-Economic-Social" Multidimensional Relationship in Coal Mining Subsidence Area, Beijing (in Chinese).

[7] Colls, A. , Ash, N. , Ikkala, N. , 2009. Ecosystem-based Adaptation: A Natural Response to Climate Change. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

[8] Eggermont, H. , Balian, E. , Azevedo, J.M.N. , et al., 2015. Nature-based solutions: new influence for environmental management and research in Europe. Gaia 24 (4), 243- 248.

[9] European Commission , 2015. Towards an EU research and innovation policy agenda for nature-based solutions & re-naturing cities. Final report of the Horizon 2020 expert group on “nature-based solutions and re-naturing cities”. European Commission, Brussels.

[10] Fu, B. , 1985. A study on the characteristics of land types and economic use in the Weibei dry plain. J. Shanxi Normal Univ. (Philos. Soc. Sci. Ed.) (2), 101-108 (in Chinese).

[11] Galler, C. , Albert, C. , von Haaren, C. , 2016. From regional environmental planning to implementation: paths and challenges of integrating ecosystem services. Ecosyst. Serv. 18, 118- 129.

[12] Gao, X. , Ban, Y. , Zhu, J. , et al., 2023. Study and analysis of mine ecological restoration practice based on EOD model. Nat. Resour. Inform (5), 33-39 (in Chinese).

[13] Ge, D. , Lu, Y. , 2021. A strategy of the rural governance for territorial spatial planning in China. J. Geogr. Sci. 31 (9), 1349- 1364.

[14] Ge, D. , Lu, Y. , Sun, P. , 2022. The logic of rural spatial governance and revitalization. Acta Geograph. Sin. 77 (4), 777-794 (in Chinese).

[15] Goličnik Marušić, B. , Dremel, M. , Ravnikar, Ž. , 2023. A frame of understanding to better link nature-based solutions and urban planning. Environ. Sci. Pol. 146, 47- 56.

[16] Guo, G. , Li, H. , Zha, J. , et al., 2023. Research status and countermeasures of coordinated development of coal mining and cultivated land protection in the plain coal-cropland overlapped areas. Coal Sci. Technol. 51 (1), 416-426 (in Chinese).

[17] Guo, Y. , Bao, Y. , 2017. Study on ecological control technology of coal mining subsidence area in the ecological fragile area of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia. Coal Sci. Technol. 45 (S2), 4-7 (in Chinese).

[18] Helm, D. , 2015. Natural Capital: Valuing the Planet. Yale University Press.

[19] Jia, Y. , Lu, Y. , Jia, X. , 2023. Significance, challenge and path of promoting EOD mode practice in eco-environment field. Environ. Prot. Sci. 49 (1), 39-43 (in Chinese).

[20] Kalantari, Z. , Ferreira, C.S.S. , Pan, H. , et al., 2023. Nature-based solutions to global environmental challenges. Sci. Total Environ. 880, 163227.

[21] Lam, M.E. , Pitcher, T.J. , Surma, S. , et al., 2019. Value- and ecosystem-based management approach: the Pacific herring fishery conflict. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 617- 618, 341- 364.

[22] Li, D. , Liu, R. , Gao, Y. , 2022. Research on EOD-oriented redevelopment model of coal resource exhausted cities: taking Xinqiu District of Fuxin as an example. J. Shenyang Jianzhu Univ. (Soc. Sci.). 24 (2), 117-124 (in Chinese).

[23] Li, G. , Wang, Y. , 2021. Autonomous rural spatial governance: a comprehensive analysis framework. City Plan. Rev. 45 (7), 67-72+82 (in Chinese).

[24] Li, X. , Fu, C. , Liu, J. , et al., 2014. Ecosystem-based adaptation: concept, tools and lessons learned from case studies. Prog. Geogr. 33 (7), 931-937 (in Chinese).

[25] Liu, M. , Lei, Z. , Gao, Y. , 2023. Spatial governance of rural watershed in Loess Gully region under the background of high-quality development: target, dilemma and realization path. Mod. Urban Res. (12), 9-16 (in Chinese).

[26] Lu, Y. , Zhao, Y. , Xin, L. , et al., 2021. Key points and practice analysis of eco-environment-oriented development (EOD) model. Environ. Protect. 49 (14), 30-33 (in Chinese).

[27] Milman, A. , Jagannathan, K. , 2017. Conceptualization and implementation of ecosystems-based adaptation. Climatic Change 142 (1-2) , 113- 127.

[28] Ministry of Agriculture , 2008. National Regional Layout Plan for Advantageous Agricultural Products (2008-2015) (in Chinese).

[29] Ministry of Ecology and Environment , 2018. Guiding opinions on further deepening the reform of "release, management and service". In: The Field of Ecology and Environment and Promoting High-Quality Economic Development (in Chinese).

[30] Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Development and Reform Commission, China Development Bank , 2020. Notice of Recommendation of Pilot Projects for Ecology-Oriented Development Models (in Chinese).

[31] Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Development and Reform Commission, China Development Bank , 2021. Notice on the Approval of Initiating the Ecology-Oriented Development (EOD) Pilots (in Chinese).

[32] Ministry of Ecology and Environment, National Development and Reform Commission, China Development Bank , 2022. Notice on the Approval of Initiating the Second Batch of Ecology-Oriented Development (EOD) Pilots (in Chinese).

[33] Nie, W. , Song, J. , Liu, S. , 2023. The organic renewal path of urban areas in EOD mode: taking Meishan urban area of Jinzhai County as an example. Urban Dev. Stud. 30 (2), 18-24 (in Chinese).

[34] Niu, W. , 2015. Annual Report for World Sustainable Development 2015. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese).

[35] Peng, Y. , Song, W. , Yang, X. , et al., 2020. Planning Zhujialin pastoral complex based on the EOD model. J. Beijing Normal Univ. (Nat. Sci.) 56 (3), 462-466 (in Chinese).

[36] Qiao, J. , Crang, M. , Hong, L. , et al., 2021. Exploring the benefits of small catchments on rural spatial governance in Wuling Mountain Area, China. Sustainability-Basel 13 (2), 760.

[37] Qiu, Y. , Luo, Y. , Wang, Z. , 2018. The new path of watershed urban and rural spatial governance from supply-side structural reform viewpoint: a case study of Lianjiang watershed. Urban Dev. Stud. 25 (10), 112-117 (in Chinese).

[38] Ran, J. , Nedovic-Budic, Z. , 2016. Integrating spatial planning and flood risk management: a new conceptual framework for the spatially integrated policy infrastructure. Comput. Environ. Urban. 57, 68- 79.

[39] Shaanxi Institute of Geological Survey, Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey , 2021. Shaanxi Province Natural Resources Atlas. Xi’an Map Press, Xi’an (in Chinese).

[40] Shaanxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources , 2021. Shaanxi Province Territorial Spatial Planning (2021-2035) (public version) (in Chinese).

[41] Stevens, C. , 2017. Scales of integration for sustainable development governance. Int. J. Sust. Dev. World. 25 (1), 1- 8.

[42] UN Commission on Global Governance , 1995. Our Global Neighborhood: the Report of the Commission on Global Governance. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

[43] Van Oosten, C. , Uzamukunda, A. , Runhaar, H. , 2018. Strategies for achieving environmental policy integration at the landscape level. A framework illustrated with an analysis of landscape governance in Rwanda. Environ. Sci. Pol. 83, 63- 70.

[44] Wang, H. , 2017. The present status and prospect of comprehensive restoration technology for coal mining subsidence areas in China. China Coal 43 (11), 116-119 (in Chinese).

[45] Weng, X. , Yang, S. , Guo, W. , 2022. Research on the dilemma and countermeasures of social capital participating in ecological environment oriented (EOD) project. Constr. Econ. 43 (8), 22-28 (in Chinese).

[46] Xie, Z. , 2019. China’s historical evolution of environmental protection along the reform and opening-up over the last forty years. Chin. J. Environ. Manage. 11 (4), 5-10+16 (in Chinese).

[47] Xu, Y. , Wan, C. , 2021. Watershed management marketization and planning practice based on “Two Mountains” theory: yongding River case. Planner 37 (8), 55-60 (in Chinese).

[48] Zhang, Y. , Liu, J. , Zhu, X. , et al., 2022. Ecological restoration of coal mining subsidence area in territorial space governance: hegang case. Planner 38 (2), 95-101 (in Chinese).

[49] Zhao, Y. , Xu, Z. , Xin, L. , et al., 2022. Research on the marketization path of ecological product value based on the national EOD model pilot practice. Ecol. Econ. 38 (7), 160-166 (in Chinese).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2025 The Author(s). Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Higher Education Press and KeAi.

审图号：GS京（2025）0055号