Until January 23, the judges have to rule on the request for a plebiscite that seeks to stop the extraction of metals in this biodiverse region.
The Andean Chocó is among the 600 sites declared as biosphere reserves in the world and is one of the 40 hotspots biological systems of the planet due to its high biodiversity and high level of threat and destruction of its ecosystems. It gathers 9,000 species of vascular plants, 270 species of mammals, 210 of reptiles, 700 of birds, 130 of amphibians, many of them are unique species that are threatened or in danger of extinction.
However, the biodiversity of the so-called Commonwealth of the Andean Chocó (made up of the rural parishes Nono, Calacalí, Nanegal, Nanegalito, Gualea and Pacto, which are part of the Metropolitan District of Quito) it must coexist with 12 mining concessions that occupy more than 17,000 hectares. In addition, six concessions are in process that would occupy at least 9,000 more hectares.
To stop the extraction of metals in this area, several environmental groups presented, on October 28, 2021, a request for a popular consultation to find out whether or not the people of Quito allow mining in the Commonwealth. ANDOn January 3, the judges of the Constitutional Court (CC) asserted knowledge of the process and have until January 23 to pronounce. The process is in the hands of judge Agustín Grijalva.
Sylvia Bonilla, the lawyer behind the petition and who also belongs to the Center for Research and Defense of the Right to Work, indicates that four questions have been submitted to the CC and they all relate to the different types of mining: artisanal, small, medium and big scale.
“Basically, the prohibition of each type of mining in the Commonwealth area is sought, since in these parishes tourism, agriculture, and the production of panela prevail. We seek to protect sustainable production against mining, which does not generate employment or revenue for the local population”, dice.
The lawyer clarifies that to give way to a popular consultation and that the result is the prohibition of the extraction of metals, the effects of the same would be in the future and would not affect, directly, the current concessions. “These processes will have to go through administrative review processes.”
Meanwhile, Gianina Moreno, president of the Commonwealth of Chocó Andino and the Decentralized Autonomous Government of the Nono parish, considers that this time they could obtain a favorable result from the CC. In June 2021, the Court already denied a request for consultation. “Changes have taken place and we are living a different logic on the issue of conservation. This gives us hope that the order will be accepted.”, It indicates.
For her, the popular consultation is an instrument that encourages citizen participation not only of the inhabitants of the six parishes that make up the Commonwealth, since it is about analyzing the future of the following generations.
“We have been told that extractivism will give us revenue, but we must understand the logic and dynamics of this territory. In the long term, we are convinced that the conservation of these forests, with their incredible diversity, will be what generates constant resources for our population. The conditions in which mining is already taking place are totally precarious, “he adds.
Moreno and Bonilla affirm that The Commonwealth has already given examples of sustainable production that can be exported through sugar cane and the production of panela. In addition, this area contributes between 7% and 12% of the daily milk production of the Metropolitan District of Quito. They add that tourism and gastronomy are also channels that generate income for parishes..
If there is a negative pronouncement, the groups will continue to insist on a consultation, says Bonilla. (I)
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