2329 Thanks to the use of this technique, revegetation of approximately 370 hectares has been achieved to date. In these rehabilitated areas, reforestation has also been carried out on 60 hectares with approximately 13,000 native plants. This method has contributed to rapid recovery of degraded areas, reduced landslide risk, and restored the landscape, enabling a natural environment in harmony with the surrounding area where construction, operation, and closure activities at the Mirador Mine are conducted. 3. CONCLUSIONS • Environmental management at the Mirador Mine has been implemented since the design phase. This has enabled prevention and control of impacts generated by activities required for mine construction and operation, achieving recognition as a mining benchmark in Ecuador. • Rehabilitation and recovery of disturbed areas through hydroseeding constitutes a new and efficient system for the country. We are pioneers in the use of this technology and have demonstrated the high degree and speed of regeneration in rehabilitated areas. • Area rehabilitation is an integrated effort that requires not only hydroseeding, but also hydrometeorological management, channel construction, monitoring, and follow-up. • Appropriate selection of plant species is essential for successful environmental restoration processes using hydroseeding. • Knowledge of soil properties is a determining factor for the development of the selected species. • The composition of the hydroseeding mix must be adjusted to local climatic and edaphic conditions. • Cyperus luzulae shows optimal development in acidic soils (pH ≈ 4.75). • Hydroseeding enables vegetation establishment 20% to 25% faster than traditional methods. • The method is particularly efficient on high, difficult-to-access slopes typical of mountainous systems. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My special thanks to EcuaCorriente S.A., which supports initiatives and embraces new technologies that have enabled us to operate the Mirador Mine with high standards of quality and environmental responsibility. I also thank Armando Rivera, our forest engineer and researcher, who has developed and managed hydroseeding at the mine. REFERENCES Aguirre N, Aguirre Z, Rivera A, 2015. Recommendations for the rehabilitation of the Mirador camp road. Zamora, Ecuador. Aguirre-Mendoza Z, Loja A, Ayala C, Aguirre N, 2015. Most utilized forest species in southern Ecuador. National University of Loja. Ecuador. 128 p. Aguirre N, Eguiguren P, Maita J, Coronel V, Samaniego N, Ojeda-Luna T, and Aguirre-Mendoza Z, 2015. Vulnerability to climate change in the southern region of Ecuador: Potential impacts on ecosystems, biomass production, and water production. National University of Loja and the United States Forest Service. Loja, Ecuador. 184 p.
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