The Environment

Maximizing the protection of the environment is a core value of Ascendant Copper. 

Unless carefully managed, mining activities, especially during late stages of project development, can result in significant environmental impacts. Although ours is an early stage exploration project, the degree to which we are able to protect the environment is fundamental to the long-term viability of our business. The company is committed to World Bank standards of environmental monitoring and management and recently became a signatory to the U.N. Global Compact which articulates internationally recognized standards for environmental sustainability.

Through careful assessment in environmental baseline studies the company will constantly measure changes in local soils and water to make sure that it is not contributing to their detriment. It is our intention, that through coordination with local authorities, the environment in our area of operations will have improved after our presence.

To achieve the goal of protecting the environment we are currently partnering with the parish of Garcia Moreno to develop a waste management program that we can extend to other communities. Acendant has also commenced a reforestation project by partnering with 5 families to establish nurseries where we now have over 20,000 seedlings for reforestation and plan to produce an additional 20,000 seedlings each year.

We believe poverty is the number one cause of degradation of the environment. Without opportunity, locals will deforest the land because selling wood is more financially rewarding than most crops that are grown in the area. Creating job opportunities through sustainable enterprises has an incredibly positive impact on the environment as it alleviates the need to deforest to make a living. We at Ascendant are committed to developing sustainable economic opportunities in our areas of operation.