The Atrato River is located in Chocó, on the Pacific coast of Colombia and one of the 25 global priority areas for biodiversity conservation. In 2016, the Colombian Constitutional Court issued ruling T-622, which was aimed at protecting the ecosystems of the Atrato River, as well as the communities in the region. The Court decision officially declared the Atrato River a subject of rights to protection, conservation, maintenance and restoration.

The Atrato River over the years had become contaminated with toxic substances because of illegal mining in the area, backed by illegal armed groups involved in organised crime, causing an unprecedented environmental and humanitarian crisis which has been exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict. Particularly concerning is the slow implementation of the orders of the Constitutional Court, notably the sixth order to end illegal gold mining, and the eighth order to address the health issues related to this mining.

Regarding the sixth order, the Colombian Ministry of Defence is currently implementing a strategy of blowing up illegal gold mines in Chocó to put an end to the trade. However, a purely military approach does not deal with the complexity of the issue. This course of action should be reviewed, in coordination with the Guardians of the Atrato, and a comprehensive plan should be developed that analyses financial flows and considers greater regulation for the gold supply chain, as much of this gold is likely to end up on the London Bullion Market Association. In addition, to there is a close relation between cocaine and illicit gold as money from cocaine is laundered using the money from the illicit gold by organised crime groups.

With regards to the eighth order, in 2018, a State-ordered study was completed by the University of Córdoba into the toxicity of the river, but these results were never released, nor is there a strategy or action plan to address the health issues stemming from toxic heavy metals in the river water. The Study carried out b Cordoba University is probably outdated now as there has been an increase in illicit gold mining over the last five years.

It is essential that a new study is completed in the longer term, but in the short term the government should develop and implement a Health Action Plan. There has been some discussion about the possibility of deploying Health Brigades, specially trained in heavy metal toxicity, by the government but this idea has not been executed. Given that mercury accumulates in peoples bodies the situation is now urgent.

With COP16 being hosted in Cali in October 2024, the Colombian government has a unique opportunity to position key biodiverse areas of Colombia into the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). While the Pacific coast is mentioned in the Colombian NBSAP, there is no direct reference to Sentence T-622, nor are there any concrete measures in relation to protecting and restoring biodiversity. COP16 would be the ideal moment to ensure that elements of this decision are incorporated into the NBSAP, thereby allowing international resources, oversight and monitoring to ensure that this exceptionally biodiverse corner of Colombia receives protection in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Watch Rodrigo Rogelis, environmental defender and researcher at Siembra Centro, discuss the Atrato River, it’s importance for Chocó and the local communities that depend on it.