New VICE article sheds light on illegal gold mining taking place in Peru near the Amarakaeri region. The Rainforest Foundation US works with indigenous partners in this area and the complexity of the situation is concerning. Gold mining has devastated nearly 370,000 acres of the Peruvian Amazon, an elevenfold increase since 2000. Not only has deforestation dramatically increased, but according to the Carnegie Amazon Mercury Ecosystem Project, miners have released 30 tons of mercury into the country’s rivers and lakes. Mercury is contaminating the local fish and entering the food chain, not only having a detrimental impact on wildlife, but on the health of miners, their families, and indigenous people living in the region. There is no easy solution to this complex situation, but it is evident that more needs to be done to address this issue. Read the article here: bit.ly/1pb2V6k For more information on some of the work we are doing in the region click here: bit.ly/1pZ8JfA
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:21:39 +0000
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