Mining Responsible to Society and the Environment: Hope for Peace in Colombia

Abstract

Written by a municipal mayor and a Medellín city councilman, former director of Antioquia's DAMA, this article presents a critical analysis of Colombian mining, centered on the historical case of Mineros S.A. in the Bajo Cauca region of Antioquia, documenting the severe environmental impacts caused by dredge-based gold mining and subsequent environmental recovery efforts. The authors develop a legal analysis of the Administrative Protection mechanism under the Mining Code, arguing that its regulatory design favors the monopolistic concentration of large territorial areas. The text proposes alternatives for responsible mining, arguing that formal mining development could displace drug trafficking as a source of income in rural areas.