"The gold rush in Madre de Dios, Peru, 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're talking about a global biodiversity hotspot. The region's incredible flora and fauna is being lost to gold fever."
In addition to wreaking direct havoc on tropical forests, gold mining
releases sediment into rivers, with severe effects on aquatic life. Another recent study showed that gold mining has contributed to widespread mercury pollution , affecting the entire food chain but particularly impacting on indigenous populations.
http://www.biomagazine.gr/index.php/site/article/6/25/BIO%20Environment/Extent-of-Peruvian-Amazon-lost-to-illegal-goldmines-mapped-for-first-time
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