Illegal gold mining threatens ecosystems and communities in Peru and Ecuador

Illegal mining operations are expanding across Peru, targeting the copper‑rich southern corridor and protected natural areas. In the mining corridor that links Arequipa, Cusco and Apurímac, trucks haul illegally extracted ore from sites such as Las Bambas, undermining formal mining investments and threatening the country's status as a leading copper producer. The Defensoría del Pueblo reports 20 social conflicts in Puno, most linked to illegal gold mining, with violence, extortion and allegations of organized‑crime involvement.

Environmental watchdogs cite damage to reserves and watersheds in several regions, including the Cotahuasi Landscape Reserve, the El Sira communal reserve and the Nanay River basin, where illegal extraction jeopardises water supplies for thousands of people. In Ecuador, similar illegal gold mining is devastating Amazonian national parks, with armed groups and drug‑trafficking gangs overrunning protected areas, leaving rangers unarmed and unable to intervene. The expansion has led to deforestation, contamination of rivers and a rise in violence against local communities and security forces.

Authorities in both countries face limited resources and a weak state presence, complicating efforts to curb the illicit trade that fuels organized crime and undermines environmental and social stability.