The mining concession in Colombia: an ecological analysis from the legal framework

Abstract

Colombia is considered one of the most important mining countries in Latin America, for 2014 it was estimated as the country with the largest coal reserves in South America; which reflects the importance of the mining sector for the development and economic growth of the country. However, there must be a balance between the exploitation of mineral resources and the protection of natural resources, since the intervention of large-scale mining operations affects the cultural and social dynamics of the territories in which they operate. This work seeks to analyze the regulatory framework that establishes the concession for the practice of mining in Colombia and the criteria that support the rational exploitation of natural resources within a comprehensive concept of sustainable development, and to know if its applicability is effective in practice. . For this purpose, the analytical-descriptive method is used, which consists of accounting for a social phenomenon, in terms of its empirical nature. We conclude that despite the fact that the law is based on the fundamental assumption of sustainability and responsibility towards the environment through a practice articulated with the environmental authorities and the community, this principle is omitted in its development and execution.