2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Environmental management is a priority axis in mine operations, with management plans implemented for water and soil control. Key measures include runoff control systems using channels that separately convey clean water and process water, preventing mixing and discharge without treatment into natural bodies. Crown, perimeter, and cross channels have also been constructed on slopes and waste dumps to reduce erosion. To date, 76.73 km of these systems have been built. To control sediment transport, sedimentation systems have been implemented, including the East ponds, North Pit pond, North Waste Dump ponds (systems AB and C), and system E for capturing runoff from the North Pit. In addition, daily monitoring of pH and total suspended solids (TSS) is conducted prior to discharge. Water, soil, and air monitoring points have been implemented with monthly and quarterly frequencies, along with the installation and operation of five meteorological stations operating in real time. 2.1Environmental rehabilitation and revegetation One approach to landscape improvement, soil recovery and protection, and erosion control is the revegetation of degraded areas. Understanding the most suitable species for each site is essential; therefore, EcuaCorriente S.A. conducted a study with specialists to identify pioneer vegetation that enables recovery of disturbed areas. Soil bioengineering and biotechnical stabilization refer to a set of slope and soil treatment techniques where vegetation is used as the primary stabilizing element and for erosion control. The bioengineering techniques used at the Mirador Project are detailed below: ● Manual revegetation involves planting stolons or cuttings of native plants. For slopes, Cyperus sp. is used because it adapts to different soil conditions and altitudinal zones; it occurs naturally throughout the project area, produces abundant seeds year-round, and has fibrous roots reaching depths of up to 1 m under high-moisture conditions. For waste dumps and deposition sites, bitter grass (Brachiaria sp.) and Cariamanga or elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) have been planted as fast-growing species to protect areas against erosion. However, efforts have also focused on planting forest species, maintaining them, and conducting continuous monitoring. ● Hydroseeding involves using bags of mulch (organic fibers with stabilizers), fertilizer, water, and seeds (Brachiaria and Cyperus sp.). All components are mixed in a hydroseeder and sprayed hydraulically onto slopes. This method has been used for rehabilitating slopes along roads, access routes, dikes, and channels. Mulch requires approximately 5 hours to fully adhere to the slope and begins photodegradation after 7 211
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