**
The soaring value of gold on the global market has catalysed a mining frenzy within Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, leading to unprecedented levels of deforestation in protected areas and a significant rise in mercury pollution. This distressing trend threatens not only the vital ecosystems of the Amazon but also the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities reliant on these resources.
The Mining Rush: A Dire Consequence of High Gold Prices
Recent findings from a collaborative study conducted by Amazon Conservation and the Brazilian non-profit Instituto Socioambiental reveal that illegal mining operations are wreaking havoc in conservation zones throughout the Xingu region. This area, renowned for its vast expanses of protected forest, straddles the states of Pará and Mato Grosso. The research, which merges satellite imagery with ground-level assessments, highlights the extent of destruction that has occurred.
For instance, the Terra do Meio Ecological Station recorded its first illegal mining activities in September 2024. By the end of 2025, these operations had resulted in the clearing of 30 hectares (approximately 74 acres). Meanwhile, the Altamira National Forest suffered severe damage, with illegal mining responsible for the loss of 832 hectares (2,056 acres) from 2016 through September 2025.
Escalating Illegal Activities and Environmental Impact
A concerning new front of mining activity emerged in 2024, expanding to 36 hectares (89 acres) by October 2025. This accounted for nearly half of the deforestation attributed to mining during that year. Satellite monitoring has also uncovered a clandestine airstrip used by illegal miners at the Nascentes da Serra do Cachimbo Biological Reserve, with mining activities there increasing from 2 hectares (5 acres) to at least 26.8 hectares (66 acres) in 2025.
The Amazon Conservation report indicates that approximately 496,000 hectares (1,225,640 acres) of rainforest have been cleared for mining activities since 2018, with around 223,000 hectares (551,045 acres) located in the Brazilian Amazon. Alarmingly, it is estimated that 80 per cent of deforestation linked to mining in Brazil is illegal.
The Broader Context of Deforestation in Brazil
While mining is a significant concern, it remains a relatively minor contributor to deforestation in Brazil, where agribusiness expansion is the primary driver. In 2025 alone, roughly 579,600 hectares (1,432 acres) of the Brazilian Amazon were cleared, with approximately 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) attributed to mining activities, according to data from the Mining Watch project.
Matt Finer, director of Amazon Conservation’s Monitoring of the Andes Amazon programme, notes, “What makes mining particularly problematic is that it targets protected areas and Indigenous territories.” Protecting these lands is critical in the fight against deforestation, as the Amazon plays an essential role in regulating the global climate. Experts warn that continued loss of forest cover could significantly exacerbate global warming.
The Cat-and-Mouse Game of Enforcement
Brazilian authorities have attempted to crack down on illegal gold mining, particularly in the Yanomami Indigenous territory in Roraima state, where a surge in mining activities has led to a humanitarian crisis. Following a major enforcement initiative, the rate of new mining sites has significantly decreased; however, illegal operations still persist.
André Luiz Porreca, a federal prosecutor investigating illegal mining, describes the enforcement landscape as a “cat-and-mouse game.” Despite efforts that led to the destruction of over 500 dredges on Indigenous land, miners often return shortly after authorities leave. “Last year, I took part in an operation that destroyed more than 500 dredges on Indigenous land,” Porreca explained. “The following week, Indigenous people showed me photos proving the miners had already returned.”
The financing of these illegal activities is often linked to powerful criminal organisations, such as the Red Command and the First Capital Command, which operate across a third of cities in the Brazilian Amazon. These groups fund mining operations that can cost upwards of 15 million reais, complicating enforcement efforts and allowing the illicit trade to thrive.
The Human Cost of Mercury Contamination
The ramifications of this mining surge extend far beyond deforestation. The use of mercury in illegal mining operations poses a grave threat to local ecosystems and human health. Contaminated waterways are affecting fish populations, which are crucial food sources for riverine and Indigenous communities.
In April, Porreca submitted a report to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights detailing the widespread mercury pollution in the Amazon. This report cited alarming findings from Fiocruz, a state-run research institution, indicating that over 21 per cent of fish sold in public markets across the Amazon exceeded World Health Organisation mercury limits. Disturbingly, children aged 2 to 4 were found to be consuming mercury at levels up to 31 times greater than the recommended maximum.
Why it Matters
The ongoing mining crisis in the Brazilian Amazon is not merely an environmental issue; it is a profound humanitarian concern that threatens the lives and health of countless individuals. As illegal mining operations proliferate, they compromise both the integrity of one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems and the wellbeing of Indigenous populations. The urgent need for robust enforcement measures, combined with international support and awareness, is critical to halting this destructive trend and safeguarding both the forest and its inhabitants for future generations.
