Photo taken on Nov. 11, 2017 shows the national highway 314 close to Khunjerab, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Pamir Plateau was once a busy passage used by traders traveling along the ancient Silk Road. (Xinhua)

URUMQI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have made every effort to phase out illegal mines in a nature reserve on the Pamir Plateau.

Since 2018, authorities in Tajik Autonomous County of Taxkorgan have invested more than 45 million yuan (6.5 million U.S. dollars) in funds to restore the geological environment in areas once granted for mining.

As the county is located on a plateau with bad natural conditions and a poor economy, local authorities once planned to develop mining to power the local economic growth. But as China pushed for green development, the idea became out of date.

Beginning in 2018, various buildings and factories related to mining were dismantled, and more than 1,500 kg of grass seeds were sown, said local environment official Wu Junfeng. A total of 198 families of herdsmen were relocated from the nature reserve, which covers an area of 15,000 square km and is home to more than 300 rare wild animals.

"With our efforts, some of the wild species in the reserve have seen their number increase, and grass has grown out of the areas once designated for mining," Wu said.

Regular patrolling is conducted in the areas to prevent any illegal mining activities, Wu added.