Summary
The Ministry of the Interior presented precautionary measures for illegal mining activities, including the exploitation of gold, in the San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro cantons of the Esmeraldas province, which is home to areas with vegetation cover and the destruction of tropical forests. The Ministry of the Interior argued that such mining activities produce severe pollution and harm the surrounding natural environment, which is a food source for local peoples. Precautionary measures were granted, and the court ordered the Armed Forces and National Police to carry out operations to control their illegal mining activities. The order included the destruction of all tools, including a backhoe, a tractor, a dump truck, and explosives, used in the illegal mining activities that pose a danger to the rights of nature.
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/illegal-mining-in-esmeraldas/.
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