Illegal mining threatens hundreds of Amazonian communities

Illegal mining activities in the Amazon are causing significant environmental and social impacts. In Peru, investigations have identified 249 indigenous and riverside communities that have been scientifically evaluated, with an additional 702 communities currently at risk due to illegal mining operations.

Recent enforcement actions in Peru include a large-scale operation in the Inambari district of Madre de Dios, where authorities destroyed 36 dredges and over 35 camps. Additionally, illegal mining caused the deforestation of more than 69 hectares within the Tambopata National Reserve between January and February. In Loreto, a specialized environmental prosecutor's office conducted an operation in the Nanay River basin to destroy mining equipment, including dredges and rafts.