Illegal mining affects several countries of the Amazon region. Deforestation, pollution of water and air, affecting biodiversity, human trafficking and labor exploitation are some of the common problems of Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia and Peru.
According to the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA) illegal mining in Amazonian countries entails other problems that require, in some cases, an urgent attention from the authorities and organizations working on these issues.
The common elements of illegal mining in the six countries analyzed by SPDA are: the expansion of illegal mining activities on protected natural areas, the uncontrolled use of harmful to health (mercury and cyanide) with serious implications for the health of the population substances and the increase in situations of child labor, forced labor, trafficking and exploitation.
We recommend the publication by SPDA to you.