Colombia’s inspector general on Friday demanded that the National Mining Agency cancel all mining activity within Colombia’s national parks.
“My office has received continued requests by the Administrative Unit of National Parks, the agency responsible for environmental protection and defense of these areas, for the urgent need for action on the part of the public administration towards the existence of 37 mining licenses which cover 89,341 acres of [Colombia’s national] parks,” said the Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez.
The inspector general also stated that as these conservation zones are protected by law, allowing the interference of the mining sector in these areas not only violates constitutional law, but also the legal protection granted by the current Mining Code.
The National Mining Agency recently expired 32 mining licenses, and also stated that it will not offer compensation to mineral explorers whose licenses have been affected by a new national park in the northeastern Santander department.
MORE: Colombia has 32 lapsed mining contracts
Sources