The mining concession is located in the province of Colón near the Caribbean coast, where several rivers converge and supply the region with freshwater. Minera Panamá’s use — as well as alleged contamination — of the water was hurting local ecosystems, protesters said.
Minera Panamá didn’t respond to a request for comment for this story.
The concession impedes on the habitat of emblematic species like the Geminis’ poison dart frog (Andinobates geminisae) as well as the endangered great green macaw (Ara ambiguus), the bare-necked umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis) and Panama’s national bird, the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja). The area is an important corridor for many migratory birds that travel back and forth from North America.
The mine was also exacerbating the country’s drought, critics said. The warmer, drier weather of El Niño has reduced reservoir levels in the Panama Canal and forced officials to cut back transit by as much as 50%, threatening global trade. Critics said the mine is using water that could be going to the canal.
The Gemini’s dart frog. (Photo courtesy of Abel Batista/Re:Wild)
Blockades at a port where mining materials and supplies arrive forced Minera Panamá to reduce its operations to one mineral processing train earlier this month. The company also said it expected to run out of supplies to a power plant.
Under increasing pressure from protesters, President Laurentino Cortizo attempted to put the fate of the mining contract into a national referendum earlier this year. However, the constitution doesn’t allow contracts to be voted on that way.
The National Assembly also passed a law extending a moratorium on all mining concessions in the country, including ones that were previously waiting approval. With the pending closure of the Minera Panamá mine, the country moves closer to being free of mining activity, or at least legal mining activity.
Illegal gold mining in places like Darien National Park continues to be a threat to protected areas and rainforests. Earlier this year, Panama and Colombia agreed to step up military operations to combat criminal groups involved in illegal mining.
“I think the next step for the movement is for all Panamanians to fight against the illegal mining that exists in places like Darien,” said Jonathan González Quiel, activist and founder of Club Qgis Panamá, a conservation mapping group.
Banner image: The Donoso District in Colón Province, where the copper mine is located. Photo courtesy of Re:Wild
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Activism, Conservation, Deforestation, Environment, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Politics, Forests, Governance, Happy-upbeat Environmental, Law, Mining, Politics, Rainforest Conservation, Rainforest Deforestation, Rainforests, Threats To Rainforests, Wildlife
Central America, Latin America, Panama
First Quantum Minerals
Source link : https://news.mongabay.com/2023/11/panama-copper-mine-to-close-after-supreme-court-rules-concession-unconstitutional/
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Publish date : 2023-11-28 03:00:00
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