Ecobreves – CHILE: Proposal for Mining to Pay for Forests

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, Mar 6 2004 (IPS) - The executive director of the Chilean Forestry Research Institute, Roberto Ipinza, proposed that a portion of the income tax revenues from mining operations should be earmarked for forest development. Debate began in 2003 about charging royalties to the transnational companies that produce two-thirds of the copper exports from Chile, the world's leading producer of the red metal.

“Mexico and Chile are the only traditional mining countries that still don't impose a royalty,” said Ipinza, addressing the Global Biotechnology Forum this month.