Ecuador is to hold a mining referendum on the same day as the country’s general election on 20 August. The referendum announcement comes amid an ongoing dispute over mineral exploitation of the Choco Andino Biosphere Reserve. The referendum, long sought after by environmental groups and local inhabitants, will determine whether mining in the Choco Andino area north-west of Quito will be prohibited. The President of Ecuador’s National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint, confirmed the referendum to Latin American business website BNamericas on Monday. She said that the body is waiting for the district of Quito to ... (full story)