A recent study reveals that gold mining in Peru’s Amazon, particularly in the Madre de Dios region, leads to significant peatland destruction, contributing extensively to carbon emissions and climate change. Despite only a fraction of mining occurring in peatlands currently, projections indicate a dramatic increase in the coming years. Urgent action is required to protect these ecosystems from irreversible damage.
Gold mining in the Amazon rainforest of Peru has significant environmental impacts, primarily through the destruction of peatlands. A recent study indicates that this small-scale mining is responsible for a substantial increase in peatland devastation in the southern Peruvian Amazon. Notably, the Madre de Dios region is the hub for about 70 percent of Peru’s artisanal gold production.
The artisanal gold mining industry employs around 30,000 individuals, a growth spurred by ongoing economic challenges from the 2008 financial crisis. Most mining activities in this region are illegal, severely contributing to deforestation and the degradation of crucial peatland ecosystems.
Peatlands are vital ecosystems that sequester carbon at much higher densities than forest trees, holding seven times the carbon equivalent of the surrounding trees. Unfortunately, as gold miners excavate these areas, they release significant amounts of carbon, exacerbating climate change. Satellite data has identified the loss of more than 550 hectares (1,359 acres) of peatland, with recent years accounting for over half of this destruction.
While only 9 percent of current mining operations occur in peatlands, this figure is anticipated to rise substantially within the next decade, potentially reaching 25 percent by 2027. This increase could result in the discharge of up to 14.5 million tons of carbon, equivalent to the annual emissions of millions of automobiles.
Dr. John Householder from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology highlighted the rapid spread of mining into these ecosystems, citing inadequate law enforcement as a contributing factor to the ongoing devastation. He emphasized the pressing need for protective measures to safeguard these fragile peatlands to prevent irreversible damage.
The study also pointed out the difficulties in tracing gold from illegally mined peatlands within the global supply chain. Small, unregulated miners extract gold without permits, and it quickly changes hands through a web of local traders and middlemen before reaching bulk buyers. As a result, much of Peru’s gold, which ranks highly in global production despite significant illegal mining, may originate from compromised peatland regions.
The findings underscoring the urgency of protecting the Amazon’s peatlands are published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
This article highlights the critical environmental implications of gold mining in Peru’s Amazon, particularly relating to peatland destruction and carbon emissions. The artisanal gold mining sector, primarily illegal, significantly contributes to deforestation and climate change. Urgent measures are needed to safeguard peatlands from impending damage as mining activities encroach further. Moreover, the link between untraceable gold and illegal mining underscores the need for greater oversight and regulations within the gold supply chain.
Original Source: www.iflscience.com
