Environment

Communities are also fiercely opposing the mining because of the threat of water pollution. A 2019 report handed to judges of the Constitutional Court of Ecuador by the US foundation Defend Them All detailed the significant damage the exploitation of Loma Larga would have on the wetlands ecosystem, saying it was “virtually guaranteed to contaminate surface and groundwater” and that “the complicated hydrology of the moorlands means that this contamination will spread unpredictably”.

The campaigning from locals has already had some success. A 2021 referendum saw 80% of the population vote to ban metal mining near water sources, and a court ruling last year also banned mining in the region, with a judge ruling that DPM had not properly consulted the community. DPM downplayed both rulings, and regarding the latter has asked if it can gain permission to repeat the consultation while continuing with the project.