Cotacachi Ecuador has protected its environmental concerns
and vigorously resisted copper mining in the Intag cloud
fores of Western Ecuador for nearly two decades.

You can read this with pictures at
www.ecuadorliving.com/2008/05/08/cot...

Yet regularly I hear from readers who say they will never
move to Cotacachi because of the mining.

There are always two sides to every story...especially when
it comes to mining, but here is the Cotacachi environmental
side of the story.

Cotacachi is resisting copper mining plans by Ascendant
Copper Corporation which plans to mine in an
environmentally protected part of Intag, a community-owned
nature reserve that forms the last remaining portion of
the Intag cloud forest, home to many organic farmers and
endangered species.

Cotacachi clams that Ascendant is trying to undermine the
local communities? attempt to develop the area in a
positive ecological and environmental way.

Cotacachi has also claimed that Ascendant acquired the
mining rights illegally and that there has been
intimidation, harassment and even death threats of local
residents who have resisted.

Ascendant Copper acquired in 2004 the rights to mine for
copper in a part of the Intag cloud forest that is an
ancient mountain range that forms a natural border between
Intag and the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Environmental
Reserve.

It is the largest environmentally protected area in western
Ecuador and is home to the endangered spectacled bears,
howler monkeys, pumas, jaguar and endangered brown-headed
spider monkey.

18,000 farmers also live there. The copper mine would be
in a community-owned environmentally protected nature
reserve that local communities and organizations have been
working to protect

Gary E. Davis, President and CEO of Ascendant with
headquarters in Lakewood Colorado said: "We are confident
that Ecuador will grow to be one of the world's great
copper districts."

Then he says "Every project has its naysayers."

In this case the naysayers are serious. They have been
fighting mining in Intag since 1991. Just last December
approximately 70 local mining opponents burnt down one of
the company's buildings. 300 people claimed
responsibility for a community meeting where all voted to
burn the building as an act of protest. All seven local
Parish government presidents Cotacachi have signed a
petition asking for a five year moratorium on all mining
activities in Intag.

The ethics of the Environmental Impact Study are being
questioned. The legality of the concession is also
questioned as the State violated the constitutional rights
of local residents by not consulting them prior to the
transaction.

This battle began clear back in the early 1990s when a
subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.

Mitsubishi left a few years later due to the strong
community resistance.

These Cotacachi communities have been working with local
organizations to establish alternative forms of development,
including an organic, shade-grown coffee cooperative, a
community-run ecotourist projectand 15 community based
ecological reserves that protect local watersheds and the
area?s endangered biodiversity.

Cotacachi which includes Intag, was declared an Ecological
County by its own municipal government in 2000. This
legally binding Municipal Ecological Ordinance, seeks to
aim Cotacachi development towards sustainable activities.

The battle continues and locals have told of intimidation
and harassment by mining proponents, including smear
campaigns, death threats, assaults, and police raids.

Violence increased in August 2007 when there was a series
of attacks against anti-mining activists. The UN office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights is investigating
allegations that mining proponents are targeting Ascendant?s
critics in order to stifle opposition.

In August 2007, Ecuador?s president called for a special
assembly to review national policies, including its mining
policy. The following month, the Ministry of Mines and
Petroleum ordered Ascendant to suspend activities in
Jun?n, arguing that the company had violated mining
regulations.

This has led other readers to complain in another way.

One reader wrote:

"Gee, Gary...I haven't seen any mention of the Ecuadorian
government's trashing of all their mining agreements and
concessions with over 50 mining companies.

"I know several groups who manage companies down there, and
there's going to be a major exodus, along with about 4,000
mining jobs for locals. Peru will stand to pick up any
economic benefits from this rather foolish move on some
companies that have put millions into development there
with agreements from the government, which has now quashed
them for re-negotiations.

"Seems that Ecuador is a left wing country after all.
What's up, do you only report on good news???"

So it seems that one cannot win...no matter which way the
coin is flipped.

In this case it appears that both the miners and supporters
of the environment are ill informed. The dispute has yet to
be settled.

From what I can see, I lean with the people of Cotacachi.
This environmental concern is something the people
obviously do not want. The mines would bring in money
yes...but for how long?

This problem was summed up in a May 12, 2008 Time Magazine
article entitled "Gem of an Idea" by Alex Perry that said
if there is a formula for foreign companies operating in
extractive industries, it has been this: Pay the government
millions of dollars for concession rights; dig, pump, pick
or chop what you seek; and export. Don't worry too much
about the country or the people."

Cotacachi based, environmentally protected, sustainable
projects will probably do more for the people...more for
employment and more for the earth. That does not seem left
wing to me?

What a dilemma! We wants goods and products...things made
from minerals like copper and steel and iron. Plus we want
wood...yet we want a clean environment as well. So what
should we do?

Both sides of the picture offer opportunity. Let's look for
a solution with balance that is good for the economy, the
people and the environment

Gary