The municipal government of the southern Chilean city of Temuco backed away from a project to construct a new sanitary landfill which came under fire from indigenous Mapuche communities and the University of the Border. Eight Mapuche communities of the Rucamanque area demanded that the dump, which was to be located on land belonging to the Forestal Mininco company, would contaminate a source of water that the residents use downstream.

Mayor Francisco Huenchumilla announced that the plan would be withdrawn from the Environmental Impact Evaluation System.

“The communities are very pleased, because it is the first time they have been listened to and have been able to halt a project before work has begun,” Alejandro Parra, of the non-governmental Action Network for Environmental Rights, told Tierramérica.