Washington, DC — Today, the World Heritage Committee added 13 cultural sites to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, including the Roșia Montană Mining Landscape in Romania. The site was simultaneously inscribed into the List of World Heritage in Danger, pending the removal of threats to its integrity posed by extractive activities. The inscription comes after years of local communities’ efforts to protect the area from the threats posed by Gabriel Resources mining company.
The following is a statement from Carla García Zendejas, Director of People, Land, and Resources at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL):
“For years, the community of Roşia Montană and the people of Romania have advocated for the preservation of the most significant, extensive, and technically diverse underground ancient Roman gold mining complex while simultaneously confronting threats to resume modern-day mining operations. Yesterday’s announcement that the Roşia Montană Mining Landscape will be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and as a Heritage in Danger site is a dual acknowledgment of Roşia Montană’s cultural significance and the continued threat Gabriel Resources poses.
“CIEL congratulates the Romanian people for their decades of advocacy that has led to this moment. This is a tremendous win for the Roşia Montană community and the preservation of the picturesque landscape. It is also a win for the protection of culture and history at a moment where intolerance and injustice continue to be widespread throughout the world.
“While the designation is a tremendous win for the people of Romania, CIEL calls on local, regional, national, and international stakeholders to ensure that the World Heritage designation is respected and that plans for the future preservation of the area are carried out in consultation with local communities.”
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Editor’s Note:
If constructed as designed, Roşia Montană would be Europe’s largest open-pit gold mine, leveling four mountains, destroying archaeological sites, and using thousands of tons of cyanide. The company responsible for constructing the mine — Gabriel Resources — attempted to relocate the community using resettlement packages and was subsequently found in breach of human rights law. After recognizing the illegality of their permits, Canadian and British firm Gabriel Resources was denied the right to proceed. The company has sued Romania for USD 4.4 billion, using investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions found in Romania’s bilateral trade agreements (BITs) with Canada and the United Kingdom.
While the community has opposed the mine for decades, CIEL has worked with Romanian organizations and the Roşia Montană community to oppose the development of the mine since 2016, filing an amicus curiae and accompanying community members during public hearings.
Media contact: Cate Bonacini, press(at)ciel.org
Published on 7/28/2021