Latin America

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts) Sat Nov 2, 2013, 02:49 AM Nov 2013

How Gold Is Destroying Peru's Rainforests

How Gold Is Destroying Peru's Rainforests
Kelly Dickerson Nov. 1, 2013, 10:38 AM

Years of illegal gold mining in Peru have taken a serious toll on the Amazon rainforest.

No one knew the full extent of the damage until a research team from the Carnegie Institution of Science and Peru's Ministry of the Environment used satellite imagery to map the damage.

Their findings are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Greg Asner and his team of researchers found that gold mines in Peru increased by 400% from 1999 to 2012. Tons of forest area has to be cleared in order for miners to dig into the Earth and extract gold, and this is a serious problem because the Amazon forest produces about 20% of the planet's oxygen, according to the World Wildlife Fund. It also sucks up carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, returning them to the Earth.

Peru's rain forests sit on top of a wealth of natural treasures, from oil and coal to gold. To get to these riches, miners destroy the forest and mountains that sit atop them. This could be devastating for the Earth, since these forests play such an important part in our ecosystem.

More:
http://www.businessinsider.com/gold-mining-destroying-peruvian-amazon-2013-10

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How Gold Is Destroying Peru's Rainforests (Original Post) Judi Lynn Nov 2013 OP

The problem prevails in the region Socialistlemur Nov 2013 #1

Socialistlemur

(770 posts)

1. The problem prevails in the region

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Sat Nov 2, 2013, 04:11 AM

Nov 2013

The regional geology has an ancient continental mass located underneath what today is jungle. These ancient rocks yielded minerals in placer deposits as they were eroded. And unfortunately they are found underneath a cover of jungle soil.

The deposits are found in Guayana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. I'm not sure if Ecuador has them under the topsoil as well.

The destruction in Venezuela is really serious because they are destroying sections of the Caroni river watershed using illegal mining practices. This reduces the watershed's ability to hold water for the dry season, and thus the Caroni tends to have a very reduced flow. Which reduces the ability to generate electricity at the Guri dam complex. This is one of several reasons why Venezuela has an energy crisis.

I specialize in tracking Venezuela's economy, but I imagine the problem arises elsewhere in other areas. So this isn't only a problem for the trees or the atmosphere, it destroys native communities, erodes the soil forever, ruins watersheds and creates electricity shortages. It's a complete disaster.

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