U.S. Forest Service Approves Mine on Public Lands, Threatens Recovery of Jaguars

TUCSON (June 7, 2017) – The U.S. Forest Service approved today Hudbay Minerals Inc.’s Rosemont Mine, a 5,431-acre, 3,000-foot-deep open-pit copper mine in critical jaguar habitat located within the Santa Rita Mountains and Coronado National Forest in southern Arizona.

Dr. Rob Peters, senior Southwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:

“The open-pit Rosemont mine would take a giant bite out of jaguar critical habitat and block one of the most important north-south wildlife corridors in the Southwest.

“With the ill-conceived border wall already threatening to prevent jaguars from reaching the U.S., the last thing Southwestern wildlife and landscapes need is a giant hole in the ground. In addition to the open pit itself, the mine’s lights, noise and roads would disturb an additional 228 square miles in and around critical jaguar habitat.

“The open-pit Rosemont mine would be smack in the middle of the home range of the world’s most beloved jaguar, El Jefe, and would undermine U.S. jaguar recovery. It’s outrageous that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the lead agency on jaguar recovery, gave the Forest Service the support it needed to reach today’s decision.

“Public lands should never be for sale to the highest bidder; they are for all Americans. The Forest Service made a poor decision today for wildlife, their habitats and all those who enjoy the benefits of our public lands.”