Researchers are raising concerns about the creation of a large-scale open-pit copper-molybdenum mine in Chile’s Valparaíso region, which they say will destroy the habitat of the recently recorded population of Andean cat, an endangered species and one of the rarest felines in the Americas. To protect its habitat, members of the affected Putaendo community and local organizations want to declare the site a protected area. “This particular area has remained virtually untouched by human intervention for a long time,” Arón Cádiz-Véliz, a biologist at the University of Concepción in Chile, told Mongabay over a video call. “It’s also home to a high diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are in danger of extinction.” The Vizcachitas project, owned by the Canadian company Los Andes Copper Ltd., is located on a rich copper deposit and has been presented by the company as a solution to help meet the demands of the global energy transition. Government officials and courts have decided that the project is compatible with the presence of the Andean cat; however, conservationists remain concerned and continue to highlight issues in the assessment. The Rocín River forms part of a vital water network that feeds Andean wetlands, lagoons, estuaries and rivers in the upper reaches of the Putaendo River Basin. Image courtesy of Arón Cádiz-Véliz. The Antuco Sector, a natural area in the commune, where the Río Rocín and other rivers, waterfalls and lagoons are found. Image courtesy of Arón Cádiz-Véliz. The project is located in the Andes Mountains,…This article was originally published on Mongabay
Researchers fear Chile copper project may threaten rare Andean cat population
