Don Mario Gold Mine

Bolivia
Orvana Minerals Corp.
IFC: issued loans to and held equity in COMSUR,[1] a Bolivian company that was an Orvana shareholder until 2005[2]

The Don Mario mine is located in the heart of the Chiquitano Dry Forest.[3] This rare, globally significant ecosystem supports the headwaters of the Pantanal wetlands and is home to numerous endemic species.[4]  The Pantanal is one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems, recognized by UNESCO and the Ramsar Convention.[5]  The area is also of great cultural, economic and social importance to the Chiquitano indigenous people.[6]  In a complaint filed with the World Bank’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, an indigenous organization argued that the mine violates the rights of over 7000 indigenous communities.[7] Among other shortcomings, the ombudsman found that indigenous people were not adequately consulted by the project proponents.[8]



[1] Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman of the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. Assessment Report: Complaint regarding COMSUR/Don Mario Mine Bolivia. November 2003 (hereinafter CAO Report). 

http://www.cao-ombudsman.org/pdfs/Assessment%20Report%20Final%20Sent%2012-05-03.pdf

[3] International Finance Corporation. A Guide to Biodiversity for the Private Sector. 2004.

http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/enviro.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/BiodivGuide_CaseStudy_Comsur/$FILE/Comsur.pdf

[4] Ibid.

[5] CAO Report.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.