Research Progress and Prospects of Aboveground-Belowground Synergistic Restoration Principles and Technologies for Degraded Ecosystems in Open-Pit Mines in High-Cold Regions

• • High-cold mining regions experience freeze-thaw cycles exceeding 100 times annually, leading to soil structure destruction and erosion rates significantly higher than low-altitude mines; for example, in Qinghai Muli and Gansu Subei, soil erosion modulus is markedly elevated, necessitating restoration strategies that prioritize soil stabilization and structure improvement. • • Wind erosion in high-cold mine dumps (e.g., Zhaha'naoer and Huolinhe) causes fine soil loss rates 2-4 times that of natural grasslands, resulting in surface crusting and reduced water infiltration; thus, effective restoration must address wind erosion control and soil hydraulic conductivity. • • Regional degradation characteristics vary: high-cold grassland areas (e.g., Xilingol, Huolinhe) suffer from strong wind erosion and frequent freeze-thaw, while arid/semi-arid areas (e.g., Ordos) face desertification and salinization, and northwest Gobi areas (e.g., Hami) experience extreme drought and difficult biological soil crust reconstruction, requiring region-specific restoration approaches. • • The proposed progressive restoration framework sets short-term goals for soil stability and structure improvement, medium-term goals for multifunctional plant-soil community construction, and long-term goals for self-sustaining ecosystems, emphasizing the need for adaptive management and monitoring over extended periods.