Illegal Gold Mining Surges on Brazil Indigenous Lands

Illegal gold mining is expanding fastest on Indigenous lands in Brazil’s Amazon, according to an analysis by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute. Mining affected roughly 24 times more Indigenous territory in 2024 than in 1985 and grew nearly sevenfold from 2016 to 2024, with about 90% of the impacted area concentrated in Kayapó, Munduruku and Yanomami territories. The damage extends beyond mining sites as mercury pollution travels through watersheds, threatening communities, wildlife and drinking water, while droughts and heatwaves further restrict access to food, transportation and health care. Munduruku leaders say miners have returned after recent federal enforcement operations, prompting calls for stronger enforcement, gold traceability and Indigenous-led environmental monitoring and climate adaptation.