AI Tool Exposes Alarming Surge in Illegal Gold Mining in Amazon Rainforest

also recorded in six other Amazonian nations: Venezuela, Suriname, Bolivia, French Guiana, Colombia, and Ecuador. According to Amazon Mining Watch, a total of 496,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of Indigenous lands and protected areas have been impacted by mining activities from 2018 to 2025, with the southeastern Brazilian Amazon, southern Peru, and the Guyana Shield being the hardest hit regions. In Guyana's Kamarang Keng Indigenous territory, mining has led to environmental degradation, pollution, and disruptions to local agriculture, alongside social issues such as drug-related problems, as stated by Alma Marshall, the Indigenous leader of Kamarang/Warawatta village in the Upper Mazaruni district. Following a brief lull in mining activities earlier in the year, the area saw an increase of 10 hectares (25 acres) of mining scars between October and December, totaling 340 hectares (840 acres) affected. Although artisanal mining has been a source of income for the local Indigenous population for years, Marshall noted that outsiders are now encroaching without proper consent, brandishing outdated mining permits. "They should consult with us before coming in," she emphasized. The Panorama report identifies ten Indigenous territories or conservation areas that witnessed new mining scars. In one notable instance, the Charip Indigenous territory near the Ecuador-Colombia border had no prior mining activities recorded since monitoring began in 2018, but deforestation was identified in the last quarter of 2025. This area is known for the presence of illegal armed groups responsible for mining, according to Jorge Villa, coordinator of the Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program (MAAP) at EcoCiencia Foundation in Ecuador. In five additional regions, mining activities that had previously diminished resumed towards the end of 2025, including in Tunants and Kamarang Keng. Four other territories in Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru experienced a surge in mining incursions during this period. In Peru, over 200 hectares (about 500 acres) of new mining activity were reported in the Tambopata Protected Area within the Madre de Dios region, increasing total forest loss there to 16,700 hectares (approximately 41,300 acres). In February, Peruvian authorities conducted an operation that dismantled numerous mining equipment pieces in the area. "It's well-known that soaring gold prices fuel this illegal activity," stated Andrés Santana, senior manager for curbing illegal deforestation at Amazon Conservation, in a video interview. Gold prices surged by over 50% last year, reaching a record $4,549 per ounce (and have since surpassed the $5,000 mark). This trend makes illegal mining operations increasingly attractive, remarked Luiz Jardim, coordinator of Brazil's Observatory for Mining Conflicts and a geography professor at Fluminense Federal University. The varying levels of mining activity reflect different local realities. Factors such as the absence of state presence, the influence of criminal organizations, proximity to existing roads, and the accessibility of heavy machinery contribute to the extent of illegal gold mining, according to Santana. Colombia recorded only 10 hectares of new mining scars during the analyzed period, as mining in the Colombian Amazon typically occurs in rivers, which does not lead to direct deforestation and is not currently captured by Amazon Mining Watch's monitoring system. "This doesn’t imply that there are fewer impacts," Santana added. In Ecuador, where 240 hectares (nearly 600 acres) of new mining scars were identified, illegal gold mining is a relatively recent phenomenon. Villa cautioned that if control and monitoring measures are not swiftly established, this pattern could escalate rapidly, similar to what has been observed in Brazil and Peru. New mining activities in the Tunants, Charip, and Arajuni Chicico Rumi Indigenous territories emerged shortly after their formal recognition last year, raising concerns about the effectiveness of protective measures. "We lack comprehensive information about the context," said Blaise Bodin, Amazon Conservation's director of strategy and policy. "The aim of the Panorama is to provide early detection of new mining invasions and publicize this information so local organizations can investigate further." To combat cross-border illegal mining, Amazon Mining Watch was launched last year, employing artificial intelligence to identify mining scars from satellite imagery. This platform is continually refined, incorporating data from local partners. "The platform's distinctive feature is its unified methodology for the entire Amazon, enabling thorough quarterly analyses," Bodin explained. "While it may not be as detailed as localized monitoring systems, it allows for the detection of new mining sites where local organizations may lack oversight." Bodin and Santana noted that the platform plays a crucial role in addressing illegal mining across borders, as exemplified by joint operations conducted by Brazil and Colombia against illegal gold miners on the Puré River last year. Santana emphasized that the solution involves not only enforcing laws but also harmonizing regulations for a coordinated response. The platform features tools that estimate the socio-environmental costs of mining in U.S. dollars, quantifying the impacts of deforestation, mercury pollution, river erosion, and silting, as well as the costs associated with the extracted gold. "This information can assist communities in legal actions or help prosecutors better assess impacts and penalties," Santana added. Amazon Conservation plans to launch a Mining Policy Scoreboard as part of Amazon Mining Watch, tracking mining-related policies in each country, including mercury sales regulations. Instances of good practices include Peru's Geocatmin mining registry and Colombia's national registry for mining machinery, which includes GPS data, noted Santana. Jardim, who is not affiliated with Amazon Mining Watch, asserted that the platform is essential for revealing the magnitude of environmental destruction caused by illegal gold mining in the Amazon. "While it may not directly diminish mining activities, it raises awareness among civil society and consumers about the consequences of their consumption and trade practices," he stated. Bodin concluded that implementing traceability measures within the gold supply chain is crucial for effectively combating illegal mining and its detrimental effects in the Amazon. "Given the current gold prices," he warned, "repression alone will not suffice."