The administrative court of Cayenne has rejected the appeal filed by six associations and two residents of French Guiana who accused the French state of "culpable negligence" in the fight against illegal gold mining. The plaintiffs argued that the French authorities were not taking sufficient measures to protect the environment, the health of local populations, and the waterways affected by illegal gold extraction.
The associations also demanded recognition of ecological damage and the granting of legal personhood to the Maroni River, which has been heavily polluted for decades by illegal mining activities. This demand was part of an international trend toward recognizing certain natural areas as entities with their own rights.
The court considers the state's resources sufficient.
In its ruling, the administrative court considers that the State already mobilizes significant resources against illegal gold miners. The judges specifically note that several hundred gendarmes and soldiers participate each year in Operation Harpie, launched in 2008 to combat illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest.
The court did, however, acknowledge the existence of "ecological and cultural damage" suffered by certain local populations. But it ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction to grant legal personhood to the Maroni River, considering that this matter falls under the purview of the legislature and civil law. The NGO Wild Legal indicated that it was considering an appeal, as illegal gold mining continues to destroy hundreds of hectares of forest and pollute numerous waterways in French Guiana each year.
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