Mining Survey in Ecuador Breaks World Bank Protocol
10/19/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Mining Survey in Ecuador Breaks World Bank Protocol
Source: Copy of message sent to World Bank President
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: October 19, 1999
Byline: Hans Foik
Dear Sir,
It has come to I attention that a serious transgression of World Bank
and international environmental protocol is currently taking place in
Ecuador with the mining survey of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological
reserve.
A World Bank financed mining project, PRODEMINCA (Proyecto de
Desarrollo Minero y Control Ambiental), is carrying out prospecting
activities well within the boundaries of the Cotacachi Caya pas
Ecological reserve in North-West Ecuador.
I am frankly shocked that the World Bank could consider financing
such a project when we understand that mining activities are
prohibited in protected areas in Ecuador under the current Forestry
and Wildlife law and the current and proposed new mining law.
I call upon the World Bank to immediately withdraw funding from these
mining activities, and to ensure that it supports no future financing
of mining activities in any of the world's protected areas.
The social and ecological impacts of mining in tropical forests in
developing countries are well known. The World Bank must be aware
that any exploration and disclosure of mineral resources opens the
way not only for industrial exploitation but uncontrolled mining by
small operators. In this case, given the ecological significance of
the reserve in question, it is also guaranteed infringement of World
Bank promises for the care and protection of global biodiversity.
The Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological reserve is a scant remaining intact
remnant of the Western Ecuadorian Forests, an area regarded as one of
the world's ten most threatened biological 'hot spots' (N. Myers,
1992, E. O. Wilson, 1995). Due to commercial logging, oil palm
plantations, cattle ranching, and other economic activities, these
forests have been reduced to only seven percent of their original
area (A.Gentry, and C. Dodson in: Biological Extinction of Western
Ecuador).
The forests where the prospecting is being carried out at present
have one of the world's highest rates of endemic species. They
harbor dozens of mammal and bird species severely threatened by
extinction, including Spectacled Bears, Jaguars, Ocelots, Mountain
Tapirs, brown headed spider Monkeys and white throated Capuchin
Monkeys. Bird species include the Plate-billed mountain Toucan,
Esmeraldas Woodstar, Great Green Macaw, Crested Eagle, Harpy Eagle
and the Andean Condor.
I anticipate your immediate and conclusive action by directing an
immediate halt to World Bank participation in the PRODEMINCA project
and safeguarding the protection of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological
Reserve. I believe it is vital that any geological information
already gathered in the area remain out of public view in order to
avoid invasion by small miners.
I would also like to encourage the World Bank's changing trend in
development policies to support the multiple options for ecologically
and socially benign projects. Continued support of such unsustainable
activities such as mining in areas of extreme environmental
importance puts this shift in severe jeopardy.
I look forward to hearing your prompt and positive response to this
issue in order to remain consistent to your own policies.
Yours sincerely,
Hans Foik
2 Duke Street,
Caulfield South, 3162
Australia
Fax; +1 760 281 7194
Email;