Gold mining is on the rise in the Guiana Shield, a geographic region of
South America that holds one of the world’s largest undisturbed tract of
rainforest. Mining is a key driver of forest cover change, and while
deforestation rates from mining remain lower overall in the Guiana
Shield than in some other areas in South America, this region, with its
unique biodiversity and expansive areas of connected forests, is
certainly a place to watch.........................................
“Some observers I talked to speculate
that an increase of Brazilian [prospectors] fleeing poverty and strict
law enforcement against illegal mining in other parts of Brazil and
Maroons in Suriname and French Guiana are seizing opportunities to
employ them to get the gold out, coinciding with
increased availability of (smuggled) mercury, might be a cause, or an effect.”
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