“Our results reveal far more rainforest damage
than previously reported by the government, NGOs, or other researchers,”
said Dr Asner, who spent much of the summer flying with the Lidar over
the Peruvian rainforest and examining the data.
“The gold rush exceeds the combined effects of
all other causes of forest loss in the region, including from logging,
ranching and agriculture. This is really important because we are
talking about a global biodiversity hotspot. The region's incredible
flora and fauna is being lost to gold forever.” .....................
Although the Carnegie research detailed only the amount of deforestation
directly caused by the mining, the impact on the Amazon, and its
people, is thought to be far greater. That is due largely to the tons of
mercury used to extract the gold; it now permeates the water table and
accumulates in the bodies of fish, which are a staple of jungle
populations. Local people, including children, have now been found to
have unhealthy levels of the element in their blood.
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