Costa Rica Gold Mine
Threatens Rare Bird and
River Water Supply
The independent Tropical
Scientific Center (CCT),
warned Wednesday that if
a planned open-pit gold
mine in northern Costa
Rica begins operating it
will endanger the great
green macaw as well as
the San Juan River,
which forms the
country's border with
Nicaragua.
Oliver Chassot, a CCT
researcher who has spent
12 years monitoring
populations of the
exotic, endangered bird,
told Efe Wednesday that
the studies he has
carried out indicate
that the site of the
mine "is part of a
biological corridor" for
the species.
"There's a presence of
great green macaws in
Las Crucitas. It's not
part of its nesting
area, but the mine will
have a negative impact
on its population and
habitat," Chassot said,
adding that Costa Rica
is home to roughly 210
of these birds.
Canada-based Vanessa
Ventures suspended work
on the mine, which lies
just 3 kilometers
from the San Juan River,
in September after Costa
Rica's Constitutional
Court agreed to hear a
challenge to the
project.
CCT President Carlos
Quesada said climate
conditions in the area,
one of the country's
rainiest, could cause
mudslides inside the
mine and lead to the
filtration of chemicals
into aquifers and the
contamination of nearby
rivers like the San
Juan.
"We have to look at what
development model this
country wants: a
sustainable one with
collective long-term
benefits or a
short-term, particular
one where an activity
like mining benefits,"
Quesada said.
Because of the mine's
proximity to the border
with Nicaragua, the
government in Managua
has already sent two
protest notes demanding
that the project be
halted. But Costa Rica
has responded that it
made a sovereign
decision in the matter
and that the mining
activity will not affect
the neighboring country.
The motion before the
Constitutional Court was
submitted to challenge a
decree signed by
President Oscar Arias
and Environment Minister
Roberto Dobles that
characterized the
Vanessa Ventures project
as part of the "national
interest."
Under the decree, the
company is allowed to
chop down 191 hectares
(471 acres) of
woodlands, including
some 200 endangered
yellow almond trees,
which are the main
source of nourishment
and nesting for the
great green macaw.
Vanessa Ventures felled
50 hectares before it
was ordered to halt the
project.
The Costa Rican
government and the
company have defended
the mining project,
saying it will create
some 200 jobs and
generate greater tax
revenues, local
purchases, investment
and salaries in Las
Crucitas, an
underdeveloped area.
Quesada said the mine
represents a
"short-term" vision of
development because the
10-year concession
offered to Vanessa
Ventures will result in
"irreversible" damage to
soils and aquifers.
At least 700,000 ounces
of gold valued at some
$800 million are to be
extracted and the
company said its
operations will not harm
the environment because
they will be carried out
under the highest
standards and with the
use of cutting-edge
technology. |
