Centuries on, it is the poorest part of the country, but one of the most destroyed by mining. Almost half of all the forest cover lost across the country due to mining activities in Chocó and it has the worst mercury pollution in Colombia. A blood and urine test for mercury carried out by the Ministry of Health revealed that residents of the San Juan basin had critical levels in their systems, far above the national average.
But the lucrative trade continues to make it a hotspot for armed groups. It is estimated that 82 percent of Colombia’s gold exports are sourced from armed criminal groups.
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