The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation
Date of Publication
1-1-2021 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Illegal Mining
Keywords
Illegal mining, illegal gold mining, small-scale mining, deforestation
Description
The occupation of illegal miners in search of gold is encroaching on protected areas of the Amazon and threatening Indigenous peoples' well-being. The rate of illegal gold mining increased more than 90% from 2017 to 2020. Small-scale mining, known as garimpos use heavy machinery o extract gold and are not considered illegal in Brazil. Illegal small-scale mining, unlike garimpos, usually abandon their mined areas after the reserves are exhausted without rehabilitating the land. Key factors for successful rehabilitation are missing in illegal gold mining. Recommendations to curb this extensive deforestation are the tracking of source materials to distinguish between legal and illegal gold mining, and the strengthening of national and local policies regarding illegal deforestation.
The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation
The occupation of illegal miners in search of gold is encroaching on protected areas of the Amazon and threatening Indigenous peoples' well-being. The rate of illegal gold mining increased more than 90% from 2017 to 2020. Small-scale mining, known as garimpos use heavy machinery o extract gold and are not considered illegal in Brazil. Illegal small-scale mining, unlike garimpos, usually abandon their mined areas after the reserves are exhausted without rehabilitating the land. Key factors for successful rehabilitation are missing in illegal gold mining. Recommendations to curb this extensive deforestation are the tracking of source materials to distinguish between legal and illegal gold mining, and the strengthening of national and local policies regarding illegal deforestation.
