Research on Rural Revitalization Planning from the Perspective of Ecological Capitalization: Taking Nuanshui Township as an Example

Abstract

In the context of a long-term urban-rural dual system guided by urban growth, the problem of rural decline has become increasingly prominent. It has become an important issue in China to revitalize the countryside and coordinate the relationship between urban and rural areas in order to achieve Chinese path to modernization. At present, the concept of "realizing ecological value" as an incentive measure for ecological protection has attracted more and more attention from institutions and scholars. However, research on using the value realization of ecological resources to drive rural revitalization is still in a fragmented outlook and conceptual stage, neglecting its potential as a sustainable driving force for urban-rural integration. Research systematically explains the basic logic of ecological capitalization driving rural revitalization, constructs an analytical framework based on the evolution process of "ecological resources ecological assets ecological capital", and proposes planning response strategies. The study takes Nuanshui Township as a typical case for empirical analysis, attempting to avoid the phenomenon of resource curse and alleviate the externalities of ecological resources, aiming to provide possible paths for protecting the ecological environment and realizing the economic value of ecological resources, and to provide reference and support for exploring the construction of rural revitalization path under the theory of ecological capitalization.

Nuanshui Township is located in the western part of Zhungeer Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, and in the central part of the important coal mine source area in western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northern Shaanxi province. It is a typical resource-based area. Nuanshui Township is a severely exposed area of arsenic sandstone, and this special geological condition is one of the main factors leading to soil erosion and Yellow River flood disasters in China. The long-term coal mining and special geological structure have made Nuanshui Township an important area in China to promote rural revitalization through ecological governance. Since 2009, Nuanshui Township has been designated by the Chinese government as a pilot township for the construction of ecological and natural restoration areas. As of the end of 2021, the ecological afforestation area of the entire township has reached 700000 acres, and the vegetation coverage has reached over 85%. However, the ecological governance of Nuanshui Township has achieved certain results, but the spillover effect of the dividends brought by ecological restoration is not significant. The basic situation of underdeveloped Nuanshui Township has not been fundamentally changed, and some prominent issues such as the separation of people and production, and the separation of people and land have not been resolved. How to activate the value of ecological resources and promote rural revitalization and economic development has become the main problem faced by the township.

Based on the basic logic of ecological capitalization driving rural revitalization and the analytical framework of "ecological resources ecological assets ecological capital", this study proposes three development strategies: high-level protection and restoration, high-quality development and utilization, and efficient organization and governance. The aim is to build Nuanshui Township into a comprehensive national forest park with ecological and geological characteristics in the coal mining area of western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northern Shaanxi province. This plan can provide possible paths and effective support for exploring ecological capitalization to promote rural revitalization.