Two ecological restoration projects in Maoming, namely Strip Mine Ecological Park and the Bohe Forest Belt, were rated among the 10 provincial models that were recently released by the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Department.

Strip Mine Ecological Park in Maoming is an ideal place for local residents to carry out daily leisure activities. [Photo/WeChat account: mmsrmzf]

Strip Mine Ecological Park is a national example of environmental remediation and ecological restoration in open-pit mines. The decades-old strip mine used to be an oil shale mine and is located at the northwest corner of the city's downtown area.

In 2013, Maoming decided to shut down the strip mine, and started ecological restoration in the mining area through water diversion, tree planting, and road construction. The abolished mining pit, which covers an area of about 10.07 square kilometers, has been developed into a lake with luxuriantly green trees.

Currrently, Strip Mine Ecological Park in Maoming combines industrial features with landscape gardens. It is an ideal place for local residents to carry out daily leisure activities.

The Bohe Forest Belt in Maoming is currently renowned as the "Green Great Wall." [Photo/WeChat account: mmsrmzf]

The Bohe Forest Belt, the first coastal shelter-forest system in China, is located at what was a vast expanse of white sand beach prone to serious floods, droughts, and sand disasters.

Great efforts had been made to build the forest belt in 1956, which has a length of 14.6 km and is currently renowned as the "Green Great Wall."

Notable improvements have been seen in the natural conditions and ecological environment here. More than 60,000 mu (4,000 hectares) of farmland in coastal areas had been restored, and sandy land had also been leveled up, expanding farmland to over 6,500 mu.

The forest belt has also protected the villages and farmland behind it from typhoon attacks in recent years, providing safety to people's lives and property.