Ascendant Copper Begins Public Consultations in Support of Environmental Impact Study Process.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Ascendant Copper Corporation ("Ascendant" or "the Company") (TSX:ACX)(TSX:ACX.WT), announces today that the first in a continuing series of critical community meetings took place this past Sunday in the local areas immediately surrounding Junin, Ecuador, the site of the Company's prospective copper-molybdenum project. This meeting was the first to be held to present the preliminary results of the Environmental Impact Study (the "Study") and the Company's plans for its Phase I drilling project to the communities around Junin, a consultative process which is scheduled to last for approximately the next 30 days. Ascendant aspires to complete this fieldwork by the end of this month, after which all relevant comments from its community consultations will be incorporated into its formal presentation of the Study to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy and Mines, expected to be submitted in early March. Drilling may commence once community and governmental approvals have been received.

"Sunday's meeting was an important and successful step in Ascendant's ongoing efforts to operate in an open, transparent, and responsible manner with the communities around Junin, keep them informed about our efforts in the region, solicit their thoughts and feedback, and introduce them to the local Ascendant team that will be responsible for our project in Ecuador," said Gary Davis, Ascendant's President.

Juan Carlos Bermeo, General Manager of the Company's Quito, Ecuador-based operations, was a key participant at the meeting, held in the local community of Villa Dorita, and commented afterwards, "The meeting was very well attended and included many important members of the local government. Our senior staff attended the meeting in order to give the members of the community a very thorough understanding of our exploration program. Ascendant representatives were well received, and the Company looks forward to continuing to work cooperatively with not only the residents of Villa Dorita, but of all the surrounding communities. Among other subjects, we discussed many community projects that Ascendant and the surrounding communities could pursue together, including initiatives that address health issues and local infrastructure needs."

Ascendant intends to sponsor workshops that will fully describe its proposed 22-hole exploration drilling program, present all of its baseline data, and work with local community members to explain the many steps necessary before there can be development of the Junin Project. Ascendant anticipates a productive and cooperative relationship with the surrounding communities, including hiring and training some local community members to serve as environmental monitors for the drilling project. "We look forward to demonstrating to the communities around Junin that Ascendant will operate in good faith, and in harmony with their traditions, lifestyles, and in an environmentally safe and responsible manner," said Bermeo.

Shortly, Ascendant intends to open a field office where all stakeholders will be invited to visit to learn more about the Project, to ask questions, and provide comments and suggestions to Ascendant. The Company wants to ensure that all stakeholders recognize that it is committed to operating in accordance with international best practices and standards, which include following the guidelines set forth in such international documents and agreements as the United Nations Global Compact and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

The Company will also continue to engage with each of the local communities to determine how it can best work with them to improve the region and meet expectations about the role of the Project. The Company continues to sponsor several very successful programs in the region, including medical and dental care, and veterinary assistance.

Ascendant plans on spending US$5 million on this first-phase exploration program. The drilling is intended to confirm historical information, close the drill spacing to determine continuity of the mineralization, and provide more information at depth and to the northeast. The program will also include a magnetic survey to measure the extent of the Northeast extension. "We anticipate bringing the inferred resource to the measured and indicated status with this program", says Davis. "Once we complete this initial program and analyze the results, we will be in a position to structure another round of drilling to determine if the project is economically feasible."

Ascendant's principal business is the exploration for copper in Ecuador. The primary property is the Junin Project located in northern Ecuador, a copper-molybdenum, gold and silver porphyry property with an inferred mineral resource of 982 million tonnes grading 0.89% copper, 0.04% molybdenum and 1.9 grams per ton of silver, at a 0.4% copper cut-off grade (1). The Company also is advancing the Chaucha property located in southern Ecuador, a copper-molybdenum porphyry overlain by an extensive supergene blanket. The Chaucha property is currently classified as a geologic mineral property (2).

Ascendant Copper Corporation

Gerald E. (Gary) Davis, President and CEO 

(1) See www.sedar.com "Technical Report Review of the Quartz Porphyry-Hosted Copper-Molybdenum Mineralisation at Junin, Otavalo, Ecuador" prepared by Qualified Person, Paul D. Gribble, C. Eng., Senior Mineral Resources Geologist, of Micon International Co Limited.

(2) See www.sedar.com "Technical Report dated April 8, 2005, and amended August 5, 2005, Review of the Quartz Porphyry-Hosted Copper-Molybdenum Mineralisation at Chaucha, Cuenca, Ecuador" prepared by Qualified Persons, Paul D.Gribble, C. Eng., Senior Mineral Resources Geologist, and David T. Wells, Senior Metallurgist, of Micon. The Chaucha property is presently classified only as a geologic mineral property.

The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Ascendant Copper Corporation (TSX:ACX) (TSX:ACX.WT)