Mining-induced land use change and ecological restoration: Lessons from three developing economies

Based on satellite remote sensing data covering 12 typical mining areas in Chile, China, and Brazil, 68 environmental assessment reports, and 23 policy documents, this study comprehensively analyzes mining-induced land use changes and ecological restoration practices in the three countries from 2000 to 2020, revealing their differentiated paths and core challenges in balancing mining land management and sustainable development. For arid conditions, Chile applied thickened tailings treatment technology (water recycling rate: 53.07 %) and seawater desalination systems in copper mines, yet community participation was below 30 % with 12 annual indigenous land conflicts. In China, mining land expanded from 18,000 km 2 (2000) to 36,100 km 2 (2020); under the "mining and restoration simultaneously" policy, 224,000 hm 2 was restored (2019–2023), but restoration rates in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia remained 46 % lower than degradation rates, with only 31.2 % of enterprises meeting policy standards. In Brazil's Amazon, mining concessions accounted for 0.4 % of the region, but their 70 km buffer Region covered 23.4 % of the rainforest; mining in indigenous territories increased by 77.1 km 2 (2017–2020), and illegal mining interrupted 58 % of restoration projects. Through comparison, the study identifies common strategies for sustainable mining land management: establishing an adaptive governance framework, initiating restoration planning 1–2 years pre-mining, and applying low-carbon tailings reuse technology. Unlike previous research, this study is the first to integrate the "resource endowment-governance model-climate adaptability" three-dimensional framework. It quantifies restoration efficiency differences among the three countries and addresses gaps in long-term restoration assessment and the integration of climate change into mining planning. Its findings provide practical references for emerging economies like Australia, South Africa, India, and Indonesia. • 20-year comparative analysis of mining land use change & restoration in Chile, China, and Brazil. • Reveals distinct patterns: Chile's tech innovation, China's policy shift, Brazil's biodiversity & rights complexities. • Identifies critical common themes: Need for adaptive governance, early restoration planning, and technological innovation. • Highlights challenges: Social license (Chile), policy-practice gaps (China), Indigenous rights & conservation (Brazil). • Provides practical guidance for policymakers, industry, and researchers in resource-dependent economies.