Natural resources are the material basis for human survival and development, and can regulate ecological balance and provide a good economic and environmental foundation for society. Therefore, it is crucial to firmly hold the bottom line of natural resource utilization and better protect the rights and interests of natural resource assets to promote harmonious coexistence of human and nature in modernization development. This paper reviews the four stages of the journey of natural resource development and protection, analyzes the inevitability of harmonious coexistence of human and nature in modernization, presents the characteristics of the new era of natural resource development and protection, and finally constructs the pathway of natural resource development and protection to provide theoretical and practical guidance for the construction of harmonious coexistence of human and nature in modernization. The research results show that: (1) Harmonious coexistence of human and nature in modernization is an ideological, methodological and theoretical surpass of Western ecological modernization; (2) The new era of natural resource development and protection emphasizes sustainable development, emphasizes legalization and standardization, emphasizes systematic and comprehensive management, and emphasizes scientific and technological innovation. (3) Natural resource development and protection should adhere to the concept of a harmonious coexistence of human and natural life communities, adopt a systematic governance approach, strengthen digital information construction, promote green and low-carbon development, improve the natural resource system, and enhance supervision and oversight capabilities.