Mexico’s executive scrutinizes mining concessions in protected areas

About 7% of Mexico’s mining concessions are located within protected areas, a report presented by the federal government to the parliament shows.

According to the dossier, which is backed by assessments ordered by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, there are 671 mining concessions occupying 1.5 million hectares located within 70 protected areas. 

Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Coahuila, Baja California and Baja California Sur are the states where most of these land-based concessions are, while Baja California Sur, Chiapas and Oaxaca host 14 deep-sea mining permits.

Local media report that the granting of concessions in protected areas and even in Mexico’s exclusive economic zone and federal maritime-terrestrial zone, started during the Carlos Salinas de Gortari administration, following the passing of the 1992 Mining Law.

The document submitted to the legislative chamber, on the other hand, notes that mining is one of the industrial activities responsible for most of Mexico’s highly polluted sites. Out of 632 identified in 2023, 84 were mining sites and 11 of those exist within protected areas. 

Data from the Ministry of Environment also show that the damages caused by mining operations in ecologically sensitive sites range from the loss of vegetation cover, soil layer and habitat to changes in air quality, surface runoff, production of acid mine drainage and mobilization of toxic substances by elements exposed to weathering, groundwater disturbances, seismic vibrations and noise disturbances from blasting, among others.

The presentation of the new report before parliament is part of a presidential initiative to reform, add, and repeal various Mining Code provisions regarding mining and water concessions.