Imataca Rainforest Reserve: regulations will not affect Las Cristinas development
<a href=>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, June 02, 2003 By: David Coleman
Venezuela's Environment & Natural Resources (MARNR) Minister Ana Elisa Osorio says that regulations contained in a decree pertaining to the Imataca Rainforest Reserve will not affect the massive Las Cristinas gold mining development in southeastern Bolivar State.
"The area was already designated as a mining zone and even though it may be submitted to public consultation, the status of the development of Las Cristinas as a gold mining resource is such that it already counts on all necessary regulatory permits and authorizations."
"There will continue to be sectors of the Imataca which will be given over to gold mining just as much as there will be sectors allowing for forestry development and others covered by an integrated protection policy where there will be no exploitation whatsoever."
As it stands at the moment, the Imataca hosts some 94 mining concessions and 257 mining contracts, which latter are expected to be reactivated in the next few months. ... they cover some 26% of the total Imataca reserve and contain gold reserves conservatively estimated at between 10,000 and 14,000 metric tonnes which will generate some 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30+ years of sustainable extraction.
Last year, Venezuela's Mining Chamber (CAMIVEN) has asked the National Executive to intervene to clarify a myriad of controversies surrounding the commercial and industrial use of lands within the Imataca reserve since it contains valuable gold and other mineral reserves which will otherwise remain unused. Camiven president Gilberto Sanchez Albornoz had highlighted the fact that serious delays in authorizing mining and environmental permits in the reserve had resulted in a flora of informal and illegal mining operations which pose a serious threat on the sensitive ecological balance throughout the 3.2 million hectares extent of the Imataca from the borders of Bolivar State with Delta Amacuro down to Roca Verdes in southern Venezuela on its borders with Brazil.
While details of the MARNR-sponsored consultations are still to be announced, they will be held later this month in two phases including inter-institutional consultations involving universities, heavy industries and mining companies as well as government agencies; and an open public forum to inform local businesses and traders about the general effect the Imataca decree will have on the economy of the Guayana region.
MARN Minister Osorio says that while the consultations will pave the way for interested parties to introduce minor modifications and commentaries, the general concept has already been established and will be presented in its final form to the Council of Ministers for approval during Q3 2003.