Keywords Environmental management, soil erosion control, soil bioengineering, slope stabilization, hydroseeding, revegetation. 1 MIRADOR COPPER MINE 1.1Description of the study area The Mirador Mine is located in the southern Ecuadorian Amazon, on the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera, between elevations ranging from 700 to 1,600 m a.s.l. The area receives annual precipitation between 2,800 and 4,000 mm, with mean monthly temperatures between 22 and 28 °C, and average monthly relative humidity between 87% and 91%. These conditions define a highly humid environment with intense weathering. Topography is predominantly mountainous, with slopes ranging from 40% to 70%. The hydrographic network shows a dendritic drainage pattern and forms part of the Quimi River basin, fed by the Wawayme and Tundayme rivers. Both the Mirador Mine and its main works and auxiliary infrastructure are located within these sub-basins. 1.2Soil characteristics Soils in the area are weakly developed and of low fertility, with shallow A-horizon thicknesses ranging from 0.2 to 1 m. They present densities between 2.630 and 2.761 g/cm³ and, from a geotechnical standpoint, correspond to soils of low natural density and high susceptibility to erosion processes. The following soil types have been identified: ● Low-hill soils (SCb): Reddish to yellowish hues and sandy-clay texture, derived from weathering and leaching of the Zamora Batholith. Surface runoff is moderate to rapid, while permeability is slow. High base saturation occurs in the surface layer due to organic matter, with low saturation at depth. These soils are acidic throughout the profile. ● Medium- and high-hill soils (SCa): Kaolinitic, clayey, low-permeability, and poorly drained. These are leached soils of low fertility, acidic pH, shallow depth, and high erosion. ● Alluvial terrace soils (St): Correspond to humid Inceptisols, with deficient natural drainage and frequent water near the surface. Surface horizons are gray to black, with redox features at less than 50 cm depth. ● Mesa soils (SMs): Fine sandy or sandy-clay textures with predominance of residual quartz. Organic carbon content decreases with depth, and soils commonly become temporarily saturated with water, limiting agricultural use. 207
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