Illegal gold mining has caused widespread environmental damage and social problems in Peruvian jungle regions such as Madre de Dios, one of the most biodiverse territories on earth.
Thousands of miners have devastated parts of the region in their search of the precious metal. Satellite images show thousands of hectares of deforestation, while mercury used by the miners has polluted local rivers, the fish that live in them and the people that consume the fish. At the same time, human trafficking and child prostitution are known to flourish in mining camps.
To date, all of the government’s attempts to curb the illegal mining has been unsuccessful, partially due to corruption of local officials and the backlash that authorities in Lima face from the thousands of miners when they take to the streets to protest.
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