Simple and Economic Method to Minimize the Mortality of Aquatic Birds in Copper Leaching Pools, in Northern Chile

27 Mar Simple and Economic Method to Minimize the Mortality of Aquatic Birds in Copper Leaching Pools, in Northern Chile

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Abstract

La mineria extractiva es vital para el desarrollo tecnologico en el mundo donde Chile ocupa el primer lugar como exportador mundial de cobre. Sin embargo, Esta actividad genera depositos de relave y piscinas de emergencia con aguas extremadamente toxicas y acidas, que son utilizadas por numerosas especies de aves, provocando generalmente la muerte de numerosos individuos. Teck CDA diseño e instalo sobre las piscinas de emergencia un sistema de lineas con banderines de colores suspendidos y se evaluo su efectividad como estrategia para evitar el uso de las piscinas por aves acuaticas y reducir la mortalidad. Entre los años 2011 y 2017 se ejecuto un programa de monitoreo de las aves que usan las piscinas de emergencia, piscinas claras y el embalse contiguo. Nuestros resultados indicaron que durante el periodo de uso de los banderines no se observo la muerte de ningun individuo de alguna especie de ave que potencialmente podria interactuar con las piscinas. Se concluye que el sistema de lineas de banderines plasticos de colores sobre las piscinas de emergencia de lixiviacion de cobre, fueron efectivos evitando el uso de las piscinas toxicas y minimizando las muertes de las aves acuaticas.

English Abstract

Extractive mining is vital for technological development in the world where Chile ranks first as a world copper exporter. However, this activity generates tailings deposits and emergency pools with extremely toxic and acid waters, which are used by many species of birds, generally causing the death of numerous individuals. Teck CDA designed a system of suspended colored plastic flag lines located over the emergency pools and its effectiveness was evaluated as a strategy to avoid the use of pools by waterfowl and reduce mortality. Between 2011 and 2017 a monitoring program was implemented for the birds that use the emergency pools, clear pools and the adjacent tailing dam. Our results indicated that during the period using colored flag lines, the death of any individual of some species of bird that could potentially interact with the pools was not observed. It is concluded that the system of colored plastic flags lines over the copper leaching emergency pools, were effective in avoiding the use of toxic pools and minimizing the deaths of waterfowl.