Evaluación cualitativa de los efectos socio-ambientales de la minería aurífera ilegal en el corregimiento de Zaragoza, Distrito de Buenaventura

Abstract

The purpose of this research article was to evaluate, from a qualitative point of view, the socio-environmental effects caused by open pit mining, as well as the new possibilities of economic recovery and employment of the productive practices traditionally carried out by Afro-descendant communities that were impacted during the dynamics of illegal exploitation. The existence of regulations and institutions as well as environmental authorities were dysfunctional before the process of destruction of the natural biodiversity of the territory. It was found that the exploitation of illegal mining led to heavy metal contamination, situation that endangers the lives of the inhabitants, on the other hand, generated the disappearance of a diversity of ecological resources and, the modification of the riverbed, altering the flood zones and generating large sedimentations.