In a protected area of the Cordillera Central, Colombia's central mountain range, gold mining plans are clashing with the desire of farmers, activists and environmental officials to preserve forests and water resources.
A movement made up of 25 international, national and local non-governmental organisations is calling on the government to halt the exploration activities of the South Africa-based mining giant AngloGold Ashanti.
The corporation, which has been working in the area since 2006, is awaiting authorisation to conclude explorations of a gold deposit situated in the municipality of Cajamarca in the central-west department (province) of Tolima, and within the Central Forest Reserve.
A 1959 law demarcated the reserve in order to ensure protection of a 1.5-million-hectare strip running north-south through central-west Colombia and passing through 10 departments, Tolima among them.
The area holds important water resources, ...