Moments after assuming the presidency of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla signed an executive decree that places a moratorium on open-pit gold mining in the country.

The decree suspends “indefinitely” the “exploration, extraction and processing of the materials extracted through the use of cyanide and mercury.”

The new decree also repeals an executive order issued on March 18, 2008, by her predecessor, Oscar Arias, which established an “environmental safeguard” for mining in the country and laid out the basic environmental ground rules for the activity in Costa Rica.

Mining has been a cause for concern over the years, particularly after Arias gave the go-ahead to the Crucitas open-pit gold mine near the Nicaraguan border. The project is tied up in court after environmentalists filed a number of lawsuits. Chinchilla has said she will back whatever ruling the courts make regarding the Crucitas project.

Chinchilla had promised to declare the moratorium during a press conference in April.

On Saturday, Chinchilla also signed a decree creating a national anti-drug commission, which will be in charge of combating drug trafficking and reducing the consumption of illegal substances in Costa Rica.

During her first 100 days in office Chinchilla will conduct a public inquiry in hopes of helping administration officials develop integral security policies.

Chinchilla also created via decree a national care and infant development network on Saturday. The network will be coordinated by the Social Welfare Ministry and is designed to increase day care coverage and elderly assistance throughout the country.

Click here for photos of the presidential inauguration.