Natural reserves decree could boost Colombia's illegal mining

The decree authorizing Colombia's environment ministry to create natural reserves in mining areas is causing concern in the industry, which fears a slowdown in operations and investments and an increase in illegal mining.

The council of State ratified the decree earlier this week that had been challenged by several organizations. Issued earlier this year, the decree establishes the process of declaring a temporary reserve as part of the environmental planning.

Lucas Marsden-Smedley, associate director at FTI Consulting, tells BNamericas that the outlook is complicated by the tendency of President Gustavo Petro's administration and previous Colombian governments to mishandle technical evaluation processes.

There is a lack of clarity over what technical criteria will be used to mark out the natural reserves and what environmental protection standards will be included.

"There is a huge problem there, with technical shortcomings on the one hand and potential corruption issues on the other," says Marsden-Smedley, who adds that local miners in the Cauca and Putumayo departments cannot obtain mining licenses. The risk of illegal mining increases when legal mining operations cannot be undertaken, he adds.

Through June, 176 Colombian municipalities had been affected by illegal mining, local police said. The departments most affected by illegal mineral extraction are Antioquia, southern Bolívar, Chocó, Caldas, Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Amazonas, Putumayo, Caquetá, Guainía and Vichada.

In many of these areas, the State's presence is limited and there are criminal organizations and guerrilla groups engaged in illegal activity.

Earlier this month, environment minister Susana Muhamad said that all mines affecting the Farallones national park in Cali would be closed. The park was affected by the spill of about 1t of mercury per year from illegal mining operations.