Summary
In 2009, the regional coordinator of the Riobamba Mining Regulation and Control Agency presented a Protection Action to the Provincial Court of Pastaza against exploitive mining operations damaging the Alpayacu River in Mera Canton. The petitioner claimed that mining operations were illegally using stone material and causing damage to the surrounding environment.
A protective action was filed with the Constitutional Court of Ecuador. In 2015, the Court approved the protective action and declared the violation of the rights of nature and ordered reparation measures. The Constitutional Court ordered the Ministry of the Environment to carry out an inspection to determine possible environmental damage in the area, in order to carry out the restoration work, at the expense of the offenders.
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2026. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/illegal-mining-in-pastaza/.
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