A Colombia’s Inspector General official requested the removal of a Canadian company’s mining license Wednesday to protect a natural park, Caracol Radio reported.
Special Prosecutor for Environmental and Agricultural Affairs Oscar Navas requested that Canadian mining company Cosigo’s right to mine in the Yaigoje-Apaporis area in sourthern Colombia be withdrawn as the area has been declared a national park and the mining license was issued after this declaration.
Navas further argued that existing legeslation permits the allocation of mining rights within the national park system.
Yaigoje-Apaporis park is more than 2.6 million acres in size and straddles the Amazonas and Vaupes departments of Colombia. The park features a collection of rivers and lakes that are home to manatees and freshwater dolphins. The park also contains many sites that are sacred to local indigenous peoples.