A Study of the Coupling Relation between Mineral Resources Exploitation and Ecological Environment: Evidence from the Grassland of Inner Mongolia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide new empirical evidence on the coupling relation between extraction of mineral resources and the ecological environment in the area of Inner Mongolia grassland and come up with countermeasures in favor of their balanced development. To this end, the study designs a comprehensive indicator framework and creates a coupling model based on the system theory and Lyapunov’s approximation theorem. The study gauges the coupling degree concerning mineral resources exploitation and the ecological environment over the period from 2002 to 2018, finding that the stress, which mineral resources exploitation exercises on the ecological environment in the grassland area of Inner Mongolian, is constantly intensifying. The study also finds that their coupling relationship turns out to be at a low level of coordination, even representing a downward trend. Albeit this region moves into the stage of harmonious development between mining activity and environmental protection, their coupling degree is tiny. This paper concludes with pointing out proposals on how to promote the balanced development of mineral resources exploitation and the ecological environment.