Latin America is rich in vulnerable biodiversity of flora and fauna, outstanding landscapes and ecosystems and natural resources. Protected areas (PAs) are a tool for the conservation of land cover and ecosystem services. But the world demand for natural resources is rising and with it resource extraction and intensive land use.
Metal mining activities are one of the biggest threats towards PAs and these activities are steadily increasing. Deep environmental and social conflicts are associated with mining activities worldwide and especially in Latin America.
The research question of this paper is: What are potential social and environmental impacts of mining activities on PAs and how can they be mitigated?
The aim of the paper is to figure out important impacts of mining activities on PAs and to highlight possible solutions for mitigation.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Mining – An Overview
2. 1 Phases and Forms of mining and interconnected environmental impacts
2. 2 Environmental and social conflicts in connection with mining and the relevance for protected areas (PAs)
2. 3 General solutions and regulations for mitigation
2. 4 Current state of research
3. Case Studies
3.1 The case of the Intag cloud forest region in Ecuador
3.1.1 Overview of the Intag cloud forest region
3.1.2 Mining activities within the Intag region and related environmental and social impacts
3.1.3 Means of mitigation
3.2 The case of the Huascarán National Park in Peru
3.2.1 Overview of the Huascarán National Park
3.2.2 Mining activities within the Huascarán National Park and related environmental and social impacts
3.2.3 Means of mitigation
4. Resume and Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the potential social and environmental impacts of mining activities on protected areas (PAs) in Latin America and explores effective mitigation strategies to safeguard biodiversity and local community livelihoods.
- Analysis of mining project phases and their associated environmental risks.
- Evaluation of social and environmental conflicts within protected areas.
- Comparative case study of the Intag cloud forest region in Ecuador and Huascarán National Park in Peru.
- Assessment of regulatory frameworks, mitigation measures, and community-led conservation alternatives.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2 Mining activities within the Intag region and related environmental and social impacts
According to KNEE; ENCALADA (2013, pp. 385-386), mining companies focus since the early 1990s on Intag´s rich mineral resources. Between 1991 and 1995, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi drilled 24 mining boreholes in the area of Junín, a known deposit of Intag. But due to strong community resistance, these boreholes were later abandoned. Currently, only a small goldmine in the region is operating. But nevertheless, due to high prices of metals like copper and gold, as mentioned in chapter 2.2, the pressure of mining activities will probably continue in the region. Hence, the threat of open-pit copper mining and related big environmental concerns will remain (KNEE; ENCALADA, 2013, pp. 385-386). The local grassroots environmental organization DECOIN (Intag Defense and Ecological Conservation) was founded in 1995 with the aim to fight against the big mining companies in the Intag region. According to DECOIN (2014), a mining project would be located in immaculate cloud forests, threatening, as per an environmental impact study, the forests, rivers and communities through relocations as well as contamination with heavy metals. In addition, the habitats of 28 species of endangered mammals and birds would be threatened (DECOIN, 2014).
The maintenance of good water quality within the Intag region is very important for the biodiversity and human health. But according to the studies of KNEE; ENCALADA (2013, p. 396) the highest dissolved metal concentrations were detected in sites with mining activities as well as in the abandoned boreholes in Junín. That means, that mining as a land use could have the most serious impacts on water quality in the Intag region. However, the dissolved metal concentrations in the Junín streams were higher compared to those concentrations in other Intag streams but still lower than in other areas with more extensive mining activities in Ecuador or Bolivia. Hence it´s supposed that metal concentrations could rise to harmful levels, if mining activities in Intag will increase (KNEE; ENCALADA, 2013, pp. 396-397).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research question concerning the impacts of mining on protected areas and outlines the structure of the paper.
2. Mining – An Overview: Details the various phases of mining projects, specific environmental/social conflicts, and general regulatory approaches for mitigation.
3. Case Studies: Provides a practical analysis of mining threats and mitigation efforts in the Intag cloud forest (Ecuador) and Huascarán National Park (Peru).
4. Resume and Conclusion: Compares the two case studies and discusses the role of community resistance versus formal protection in managing mining risks.
Keywords
Mining, Protected Areas, Latin America, Environmental Impacts, Social Conflicts, Biodiversity Conservation, Mitigation, Intag, Huascarán, Sustainable Development, Eco-tourism, Water Quality, Environmental Regulation, Community Participation, Land Use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the negative environmental and social impacts caused by metal mining activities in or near protected areas, focusing specifically on Latin America.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the phases of mining, conflicts with local communities, risks to biodiversity and water resources, and strategies like environmental impact assessments and community-led alternatives.
What is the core research question?
The research asks what the potential social and environmental impacts of mining on protected areas are and how these impacts can be effectively mitigated.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work employs a literature-based analysis of mining impacts combined with a comparative case study approach, utilizing data from Ecuador and Peru.
What does the main body cover?
It covers theoretical aspects of mining and environmental law, followed by in-depth examinations of the Intag cloud forest and Huascarán National Park.
Which keywords define this research?
Key terms include mining, protected areas, Latin America, biodiversity conservation, mitigation, and community-led conservation.
How do the cases of Intag and Huascarán differ in their management?
In Intag, local community resistance and self-declared "environmental canton" status have successfully blocked major projects, whereas Huascarán, as a National Park, faces challenges from legacy mining authorizations granted before its official designation.
Why is water quality highlighted as a specific concern?
Water quality is critical for both biodiversity and local communities, and studies show that mining activities lead to increased concentrations of heavy metals and acidity in surrounding streams and rivers.
What role does the local community play in the Intag region?
The community in Intag is highly organized and acts as a central force in monitoring and rejecting mining projects, while also developing sustainable alternatives like community-managed eco-tourism.
What is the status of mining within Huascarán National Park?
Despite being a protected National Park, mining persists in certain areas due to pre-existing authorizations, which creates ongoing compliance issues and environmental degradation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sarah Schmidt (Autor:in), 2015, Impacts of Mining Activities on Protected Areas and their Mitigation. Two Cases from Latin America, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/302514
