Environmental Destruction by Illegal Mining in South America - June 1995

Environmental Destruction by Illegal Mining in South America - June 1995

**Environmental Destruction by Illegal Mining in South America: The Amazon Region and the Mining Industry**.

From the 1990s to the present, illegal mining in South America has caused serious environmental destruction. Especially in the Amazon region, which stretches across Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, illegal gold mining has significantly increased and is a major cause of deforestation and environmental pollution. For example, in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará, an estimated 100,000 hectares or more of forest are lost to illegal mining each year. This is rapidly destroying the Amazon's rich ecosystems.

One of the biggest environmental problems caused by illegal mining is the contamination of mercury used in mining. Mercury is heavily used to extract gold and flows directly from mining sites into rivers and lakes. In particular, illegal mining in the Peruvian state of Madre de Dios releases approximately 180 tons of mercury per year, causing serious water pollution in large areas of the Amazon River basin. This has resulted in mercury accumulating in fish and other aquatic organisms, posing a health hazard to local residents through the food chain. In fact, a 2019 survey showed that about 80% of residents had mercury levels above the standard.

In addition, illegal mining involving the major mining company Vale (Vale) has been reported in Brazil, where some mining activities are carried out in disregard of regulations. Another problem is the involvement of criminal organizations in mining activities and illegal gold exports in response to increasing international demand for mineral resources. In particular, there are indications that some of the gold traded on international markets, such as Switzerland and the United States, is illegally mined from the Amazon region.

Another problem caused by illegal mining is the deterioration of security in local communities. Violence over illegal mining is becoming more frequent, and local residents and environmental activists are increasingly being targeted. In the Brazilian state of Pará, an environmental activist was murdered by illegal miners in 2018, attracting international attention.

In response to these issues, the Brazilian and Peruvian governments are working with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other international organizations to strengthen the crackdown on illegal mining. Brazilian federal police seized about 200 tons of illegally mined gold in 2020 and closed illegal mining sites. However, with the current high demand for mineral resources, it is very difficult to completely eradicate illegal mining.