Protecting Colombia's Freshwater

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

Photo: Colombia's Santurban, a key water source | Credit: Fredy Gómez Suescún

A high-altitude wetland that provides drinking water for more than two million people could become the site of one of the world’s largest gold and silver mines.

Greystar Resources, Ltd. of Canada had planned to build the open-pit Angostura mine in the heart of Colombia’s Santurban wilderness of high-altitude forests and wetlands called paramos. The area serves as a “water factory” for lower-lying areas and a refuge to hundreds of threatened and / or endemic species such as the spectacled bear.

In 2010, after years of public protests, hearings and collective efforts against the mine project, regulators asked Greystar to resubmit its environmental impact assessment. At the time, regulators cited a ruling that the proposed mine would violate newly passed wetlands-protection legislation.

In collaboration with various partners, AIDA has provided legal advice and arguments to environmental and mining regulators regarding Angostura. We also attended hearings on the project. Most recently, AIDA cited Angostura’s violation of national and international environmental law in arguments submitted for a March 2011 ministry of environment hearing.

In May 2011, Colombia’s ministry of environment finally denied Greystar’s environmental license application. The ministry cited the Colombian Constitution which protects the right to a healthy environment and establishes the state obligation to prioritize sustainable development and protect natural resources. The ministry also cited the country’s General Environmental Law which regulates polluting activities to prevent environmental damage, and environmental principles enshrined in various international legal instruments binding for Colombia.

The threat to Colombia’s paramos has not entirely passed. Greystar still retains exploration permits for the Angostura mine project, and can legally restart the proposal process, although not for the same area initially proposed. But by denying the environmental license, Colombia has set a powerful example for the rest of Latin America.

We urge Colombia to stand by its use of national and international law in defense of citizens’ rights to a healthy environment and sustainable development.