One of the most controversial issues in recent years, the mining exploitation of Loma Miranda was discussed before for the general public on Sunday, in an event sponsored by El Dia newspaper. The panel was moderated by the executive editor of El Dia, Rafael Molina Morillo. One of the key conclusions was the need for a general mining land use plan for the country to determine where mining will not clash with other uses.
A movement head by Catholic Church priests and the Academy of Sciences has opposed the mining exploitation of the Loma Miranda in central La Vega province, and called to protect the area naming it a national park. During the panel, the pros and cons of such a move were discussed. El Dia published summaries of speaker presentations in their 14 July 2014 issue.
Geologist Osiris de Leon says that the declaration of Loma Miranda as a National Park will create an international legal conflict that could be costly to the government. He argued Falcondo has a contract granting 75 years of rights and would demand a hefty penalty for the ban on exploiting gold in its concession. He recognized that the mining companies have not fulfilled their commitments to restore mined areas nor create jobs outside of mining.
Environmentalist Luis Carvajal addressed the rich biodiversity of the area. He commented that responsible mining only exists in the imagination and science fiction. He said that the restoration of an open pit mining area requires more than planting trees. He spoke of the many species that leave due to the contamination caused by open pit mining. He said that already the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court have banned mining in Loma Miranda.
The president of the Academy of Sciences Milciades Mejia said that Loma Miranda has more biodiversity than many already established national parks. He said that while Falcondo argues it will only exploit an area of 4.6 square kilometers, 30 km of roads would need to be built to access the mine. This would impact the vulnerable area. Mejia says that Falcondo’s track record in the country disputes the company claims that it will implement responsible mining practices. He upheld Constitution when he stated that Falcondo cannot claim rights to what is below the ground and that the responsibility of the government is to pay the simple worth of the land in compensation.
Geologist Eduardo Verdeja argued the yields of mining operations for the government. He commented that the government would receive 55% of the profits. He argued that the environmentalists that oppose the project are not basing themselves on real data for the area. He said the area where the mining would be centered is already affected by human activity, such as wood processing, farming, and cattle ranching.
Osiris de Leon
Luis Carvajal
Milciades Mejia
Eduardo Verdeja