Mauricio Cornejo is an environmental defender and member of the Assembly of Self-Convened Neighbours of Uspallata. The aim of this group is to protect the region from the potential environmental and community impacts of the San Jorge mine. This movement has committed itself to the preservation of water, territory, and the ecosystems of the Andes cordillera, producing informative publications and contributing to the creation of laws on Protected Natural Areas. Mauricio Cornejo is a local shopkeeper in Uspallata and facilitates cultural and community spaces, promoting local identity and knowledge.  

The Uspallata district is crossed by the Mendoza River and the San Alberto watercourse, a vital resource for the local population and agricultural activities. Since 2008, when a first mining company expressed interest in the region, the community has been consistently denouncing the risk of pollution and the impact on water — a central issue for the valley’s survival. Despite sustained opposition from the local population, the mining project, led by Swiss company Solway Investment Group, has been attempting to establish itself in the region for seventeen years, backed by local government and its economic interests.