Stop illegal gold mining in Peru's South Eastern forests

The forests in Peru's South East are part of 2 basins, the Amazon and the Titicaca. These forests are being destroyed very fast by illegal gold mining, which uses chemicals such as mercury and arsenic and dumps them in the water, therefore poisoning it and poisoning trees, fish, reptiles, mammals such as the extremely endangered Giant River Otter. The whole food chain and environment of one of the best preserved spots in the planet is at risk. The Tambopata National Reserve is usually referred to as the "most bio diverse spot in the world" and is next door to the gold miners camps, literally. Yet this protected area holds world records for numbers of butterflies, 670 birds species registered within (among them 8 of macaws and the rare and large Harpy Eagle), as well as 174 species of mammals such as Jaguars, Giant Anteaters and the rare Maned Wolf, an Amazonian canine. Reptiles, insects, trees have all impressive numbers too. And let's not forget that Amazonian tribes who live in voluntary isolation roam these lands too.

Typically it is thought that illegal gold mining is an activity performed independently by poor people as a last resource to make money. And while that might be the case for some, gold mining is now a mafia likely financed by international interests and that has the resources to build roads, corrupt politicians, pay armed security, and build and run brothels where under-age kidnapped young girls are forced to work as prostitutes to entertain the gold miners camping out in the jungle.

The tolerance given to this activity is partially due to the lack of Government presence and enforcement authorities in the city of Puerto Maldonado (the main city in the region) but also to the strength in numbers of the miners who, in previous occasions have demonstrated and produced fear among the local population. Yet the local people do not want illegal mining. They see the benefit of the forests being healthy. One of their main activities in Puerto Maldonado is tourism. More specifically eco-tourism. More than 30,000 visitors come every year to Tambopata with the intention of discovering the wildlife surrounding. As a Tour Leader that used to take groups to the Tambopata Reserve I can confirm that it was quite common to find boats of illegal miners on the river. Then I would explain to the travellers what they were and what they do. But eco tourism and illegal gold mining can not live together. Not after seeing the images of the last video that shows the devastation produced by these activity.

It is not too late if we act now! Tambopata and surrounding parks and reserves are still beautiful pristine areas where tribes can live out of reach if they want to and where it is possible to see a Jaguar laying on a beach by the river. I have seen a Giant Anteater walk past right next to me in peace because it probably had never seen a human before. I have seen families of Giant River Otters fishing and playing together. It is fascinating how much life and exuberance can coexist in harmony in one place. Let's not be the ones who ruin it.

None of this has to be. There are alternatives. There are cleaner (yet not totally clean) ways of mining for gold. It is important to understand that illegal mining pays no tax and is obviously unsupervised. There is a need to control the influx of the chemicals used in mining and make them available only in designated places to licensed miners. The Peruvian government needs to promote the shifting to cleaner mining or to other activities that are legal, tax paying and respectful of the environment such as the farming of Brazilian Nuts and Medicinal Plants or the growing industry of Eco-Tourism.

The Minister of Environment is talking of calling on the population to make the fight against illegal gold mining a national crusade. While it is important to involve and educate the population, we need action makers to create the possibilities for people to actually support a cause.

For more information check:
http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0926-gold-mining-video.html#bClfSHCDxlcPlBG3.01

http://www.peru.travel/en/where-to-go/madre-de-dios-660-3.16-2-1309-ci4