{"id":14806,"date":"2022-04-04T08:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T06:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=59804"},"modified":"2022-04-04T08:17:11","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T06:17:11","slug":"global-biodiversity-hotspot-faces-mining-threat","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/global-biodiversity-hotspot-faces-mining-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Global biodiversity hotspot faces mining threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Kenny Taylor\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 04 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Part of the most wildlife-rich zone in the world could be turned into an open-cast copper mine, if a recent ruling in Ecuador stands.<\/p>\n

A group of 12 research, conservation and environmental organisations has condemned the judgement by the Cotacachi canton court, and a legal team representing local communities is now appealing the decision.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sub>Intag, in a mountainous region of northern Ecuador, is part of the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot, which is unequalled for biodiversity. The cloud forests of Intag are home to many critically endangered creatures, and rich in rare amphibians.<\/p>\n

These include the longnose harlequin toad, rediscovered here in 2016 after decades when it was thought to be extinct. A new species of rocket frog, whose name is being chosen in an online poll from two suggested by local people, was discovered in 2019 within Intag\u2019s Llurimagua area, now earmarked for mining.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Intag River in Ecuador. \u00a9 Lucas Bustamante<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Local communities have opposed mining here for decades, but recent national policy could now be working against them. Last year, Ecuador\u2019s president, Guillermo Lasso, signed a decree supporting the development of mining in the country and said that he cannot allow indigenous groups \u201cmotivated by \u2018political interests\u2019 to ruin the nation\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ecuador\u2019s state mining company and Codelco, the National Copper Corporation of Chile, hope to extract the metal over 27 years, with their joint venture now at an advanced exploratory stage.<\/p>

Codelco is the world\u2019s largest producer of copper, with pre-tax profits boosted by billions last year because of high global prices and demand, including for use of copper in electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

An environmental impact assessment conducted for the mining companies did not include all the threatened and endangered species in the Llurimagua concession, such as the longnose harlequin toad, say campaigners. Despite this, the canton court declined to in March to provide more details on the reasoning behind the judgement.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Intag Valley\u2019s newly discovered rocket frog. \u00a9 Centro Jambatu<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Carlos Zorrilla, an Intag farmer and environmental activist who is helping to lead local opposition to the mining, says that it \u201cwill turn out to be one of the world\u2019s worst environmental catastrophes, if we allow it to go forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Carlos Zorilla is an Intag farmer and environmental activist who is helping to lead local opposition to the mining. \u00a9 Carlos Zorrilla\/Rainforest Concern<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Main image: A Longnose Harlequin Toad. \u00a9 Gustavo Pazmi\u00f1o<\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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