Peru's Operation Mercury stopped most illegal gold mining in one

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a lifeline for many who live in Madre de Dios, a region in southeastern Peru, where poverty is high and jobs are scarce. But the economic development in this part of the basin comes at a cost, as it causes deforestation, build up of sediment in rivers, and mercury contamination in nearby watersheds, threatening public health, Indigenous peoples, and the future of the biodiversity hotspot. And much of the mining activity is unauthorized.

Illegal mining has muddied tropical rivers worldwide, Science

Peru's crackdown on illegal gold mining a success, but only

Gold mining - Wikipedia

Peru Launches 'Sustained' Crack-down on Illegal Mining in

Grim Prospects for Sustainable Mining in Peru

Peru's Operation Mercury stopped most illegal gold mining in one

Gold rush another blight to ailing jungle

Deforestation Due to Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

A Toxic Trade: Illegal Mining in Peru's