Ban in Colombian Santurbán Area Leaves Miners in Limbo

Mining attorney Estefanny Pardo was interviewed by BNamericas about the recent declaration of a temporary reserve zone in the Santurbán massif, a measure that prohibits new mining licenses and project expansions in the region. This decree, affecting 76,012 hectares in Santander, aims to protect key ecosystems from unregulated mining exploitation. Ms. Pardo highlighted that mining projects will be frozen without the possibility of modifying their environmental instruments while the ban is in effect. Although the restrictions do not apply to projects with existing licenses, the limited community participation in the socialization process could lead to new protests. She said the tension between economic needs and environmental protection remains a significant challenge for the region.

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