Kimsacocha: What’s at Stake for the Animals
High in the Ecuadorian Andes, Kimsacocha’s fragile páramo ecosystem supports rare and endangered species found nowhere else on Earth (Garcia et al., 2020; Medina-Torres et al., 2022). This landscape faces irreversible harm as Dundee Precious Metals advances plans for a large-scale mining project despite decades of opposition from local communities. With mounting pressure, the future of Kimsacocha—and the species that depend on it—remains uncertain (Emerman, 2019; Corporación Terrae, 2022).
The Loma Larga mining project targets a páramo—a complex alpine tundra wetland that exists exclusively between the tree line and snow line in tropical high mountains (Garcia et al., 2020). Páramo soils are porous andosols derived from volcanic ash deposits and layered organic matter formed over millions of years, with exceptional water retention that regulates hydrology over broad landscapes (Medina-Torres et al., 2022). The hydrology is complex and not fully understood, but the ecosystem supports many species and serves as a vital water source.
The EIS omits many species known to breed, rest, or forage in and around Kimsacocha and severely understates the risks of the project (EIS, 2019). Only species that were “recorded,” i.e., visually documented, were included in the EIS. Camera trap sightings were not included to avoid misidentification. Given the sensitivity of this ecosystem and the key role species play in maintaining water and air quality, a proper evaluation is needed to provide an accurate assessment of risk.
As progressive as Ecuador's constitution may seem, no legal framework has proven immune to faltering when nature's interests are weighed against human priorities. Kimsacocha remains a test of whether Ecuador's Rights of Nature will stand as enforceable guarantees for ecosystems and communities—or yield, once again, to the pressures of extractive expansion. Advocates continue to press for the definitive cancellation of Loma Larga and for full enforcement of the 2021 popular consultation that prohibits mining in Cuenca's water recharge zones.
After decades of relentless opposition, the message from Cuenca is unchanged, and louder than ever.
