Amazon Conservation has an extensive history of tracking illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon via our real-time satellite monitoring program, Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program (MAAP). Over the years, we have continuously expanded our scope across all 9 countries of the Amazon, partnering with numerous local NGOs and civil society organizations who often utilize this information to take legal action against illegal gold mining and other harmful deforestation activities. 

To further support our efforts, Amazon Conservation was recently granted generous funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to improve our real-time monitoring of illegal gold mining across the Amazon basin and advance mechanisms for using this information to improve law enforcement responses. With this grant, we will work directly with local authorities and civil society organizations in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to improve our collective abilities to quickly detect gold mining and protect key conservation areas and Indigenous territories throughout the Amazon Basin.

Recent MAAP reports reveal that illegal gold mining activities continue to expand in these countries, negatively impacting thousands of acres of pristine forests, contaminating major waterways, and threatening the natural resources that many Indigenous communities depend on. Additionally, illegal mining also leads to large economic losses due to the direct impact on ecosystem services and other sustainable economic activities. Given the recent expansion of these mining activities, it is vital that we step up our efforts to help local authorities and civil society organizations on the ground to strengthen their capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of gold mining on both biodiversity and human health.

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The Gordon and Betty Moore grant will allow us to achieve the following goals by 2026: 

• A comprehensive information platform covering 100% of the Amazon will be established to enable stakeholders to access and utilize advanced detection, mapping, and visualization tools to improve the monitoring and analysis of both legal and illegal gold mining activities.
• Civil society partners will have improved technical skills, strategic capacities, and tools to effectively support government enforcement and policy actions against illegal mining.
• Civil society partners can prompt swift government action to curb and prevent illegal mining in the Amazon, enhancing monitoring and enforcement efforts while also strengthening the policy and legal framework surrounding gold mining.
• Amazon Conservation and its civil society partners lead targeted communication campaigns to share insights, analyses, and outcomes from project interventions. By collaborating with key media outlets and stakeholders, they ensure that this information reaches a wide audience and informs relevant policies.

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Our current civil society partners we will be working with under this grant include: 

                         

Several of our partners recently showcased our partnership to address illegal gold mining in the Amazon at this year’s CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia. We invite you to watch a recording of the event livestream here. 

We are extremely grateful for the generous support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and look forward to what we can accomplish through our expanding partnership network.

 

Over the past few months, we’ve released a series of MAAP reports (MAAP #215 & MAAP #217) that introduced a critical new dataset (Planet’s Forest Carbon Diligence product) that provides wall-to-wall estimates for aboveground carbon, which has allowed us to highlight the highest (peak) aboveground carbon levels in parts of the Amazon.

Our newest report, MAAP #220, is part 3 of this series, focusing on aboveground carbon loss and gain across the Amazon over the 10 years of the data gathered.

For context, the Amazon loses carbon to the atmosphere due to deforestation, selective logging, human-caused fires, or natural disturbances, while it gains carbon from regeneration and old-growth forests sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Overall, we find that the Amazon still narrowly functions as an overall carbon sink (meaning the carbon gain is greater than the loss).

However, this gain is quite small relative to the total aboveground carbon contained across the Amazon, reinforcing concerns that the Amazon could flip to a carbon source (with carbon loss becoming greater than its gain) due to increasing deforestation, degradation, and fires.

In this report, we illustrate these findings with a series of novel maps zooming in on emblematic cases of high carbon loss and gain across the Amazon over the past 10 years. These cases include forest loss from agriculture, gold mining, and roads and forest gain from remote primary forests.

Zooming in to the site level yields additional important findings. For example, we can now estimate the carbon loss from major deforestation events across the Amazon during the past ten years. On the flip side, we can also calculate the carbon gain from both secondary and primary forests.

 

Read the full report here.

 

Last month, we were thrilled to share that we’ll be taking part in one of the world’s most critical conservation summits— the CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia. As global biodiversity faces unprecedented threats, this event offers a vital platform for shaping solutions to help protect ecosystems and species across the planet. 

As we dive into conversations that could redefine the future of conservation, our organization will be hosting an exclusive side event that unveils groundbreaking strategies and solutions implemented to intervene against illegal gold mining: one of the most prominent threats to the Amazon basin. 

As detailed in many of our ongoing MAAP reports, the Amazon is at risk of approaching a dangerous tipping point due to deforestation, converting itself from a lush forest to a savanna ecosystem and becoming a net carbon source. Illegal gold mining activities continue to escalate across this vital rainforest basin, devastating the health of surrounding communities, wildlife habitats, and water resources. Although protected areas cover more than 30% of the Amazon biome, deforestation and degradation continue to threaten the ecological health of millions of acres, and continued gold mining runs counter to an effectively conserved and well-connected network of protected areas in the region. 

Given the drastic environmental and social impacts of illegal gold mining, addressing this threat is essential to reducing the loss of areas with high biodiversity importance and ecological integrity, both of which are widespread in the most biodiverse ecosystem on Earth. 

For this reason, Amazon Conservation will be hosting The Power of Technology and Partnerships to Stop Illegal Gold Mining in the Amazon: a side event that will showcase the solutions devised and implemented by a constellation of civil society organizations working in the region to monitor in real-time the expansion of gold mining, compel governments to intervene against illegal mining, reduce its impacts – including through mercury pollution- and to track the illicit financial flows that fuel its expansion. 

We are eager to share our proposed efforts in combating illegal gold mining across the Amazon, inspiring advocacy and taking action to protect one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. 

Click here for more details on this event

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Updated as of December 2024: Click here to view the live recording of this event. 

 

In previous reports (MAAP #182, MAAP #219), evidence has shown that mining activities have increased in the Ecuadorian Amazon, drastically affecting protected areas and Indigenous territories.

Now, our newest report from MAAP,  MAAP #221, provides an in-depth analysis of four protected areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon that are currently threatened by mining activities. Utilizing high-resolution satellite imagery, this report details the impacts of these mining activities in the following areas:

• Podocarpus and Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Parks,
• Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve, and
• El Zarza Wildlife Refuge.

The analysis’s findings show that mining deforestation deep within Podocarpus National Park, along the Loyola River, has increased to 50 hectares, representing a growth of 125% between 2023 and 2024.

In other examples, we show how the rapid mining expansion within their buffer zones has recently penetrated the boundaries of the Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park and the Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve.

 

Read the full report here. 

 

 

Our 2023 Impact Report is here! 

2023 was a year full of collaboration and ground-breaking endeavors that have allowed us to push the boundaries of conservation, extending our impact even further and deeper across the Amazon Basin. We are delighted to share our accomplishments with you, our committed community of supporters, and conservationists.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors that fuel our work across the region, we were able to accomplish major milestones in 2023: 

• Halting a massive deforestation project in the Amazon of Suriname by providing local partners with MAAP data that analyzed the impacts of a proposed land deal. This information reached the Surinamese government, and, following the publication of this MAAP report, the government officially announced the termination of this project that would have destroyed over 1 million acres of forests. 
• In coordination with our Peruvian sister organization, we helped establish a legal clinic to provide counsel to local and Indigenous communities fighting illegal deforestation in their forest homes. This support helped them confront nature crimes in their territories, enabling them to submit legal claims and prosecute illicit actors. 
• Through close collaboration with local partners and Indigenous groups, we provided actionable, real-time data that enabled local authorities to conduct 15 major field operations to stop incidents of illegal gold mining, one of them destroying roughly $11 million worth of mining equipment and heavy machinery, making this one of the largest illegal mining raids in Peruvian history. 
• Continued the hard work of protecting 9.3 million acres of wild places, and advanced in the long-term process of creating new protected areas that will protect millions more.

 

We are grateful to have such a dedicated network of supporters, partners, and team members who have helped drive our conservation efforts forward. These incredible achievements would not have been possible without YOU. Here’s to another great year of conservation! 

Click here to read our 2023 Annual Impact Report.

 

Earlier this year, we celebrated alongside our Bolivian sister organization Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA Bolivia in the creation of the Arroyo Guarichona Natural Area in July, which now protects 199,435 hectares (492,814.8 acres) of vital natural spaces with savannas, lowland forests, and high biodiversity in Beni, Bolivia.

Now, several months later, we’re celebrating again with the official establishment of a new conservation area in Bolivia’s Pando region: the Tahuamanu – Orthon Conservation Area! On September 5th, the municipality of Porvenir and the Governor of Pando, Regis Richter Alencar, enacted the Departmental Law No. 031/2024, creating 308,470.69 (76,2247.7 acres) hectares of protected forests. This area is key to preserving the region’s natural heritage and promoting sustainable development that benefits both the environment and local communities. The establishment of this area consists of 3 major long-term goals: to protect biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of natural resources, secure resources for future generations, and promote the health, food security, access to water, and well-being of all who depend on them. 

Amidst the fires that are sweeping across the Amazon, the news of a new conservation area comes as an encouraging step towards mitigating the expansion of mining and the misuse of land, providing the region with an opportunity to safeguard its ecosystem and resources. The Pando region hosts unique biodiversity and natural resources, including valuable water supplies. Among these, the Tahuamanu and Orthon rivers are vital sources of life and support for many communities that rely on them directly for their economic sustenance. The creation of the Tahuamanu – Orthon Conservation Area also provides the chance to promote scientific research and Pando’s Amazonian identity. 

This achievement was accomplished thanks to the active participation of local communities and municipalities of Porvenir, Filadelfia, Bolpebra, Bella Flor, Puerto Rico, Santa Rosa del Abuná, Villa Nueva, and Ingavi San Pedro, which guaranteed inclusive and committed management of the area. The creation of this new conservation area would also not have been possible without the generous contributions of the Andes Amazon Fund.

Thanks to the hard work of these local participants and Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA in Bolivia, our total number of acres protected has grown from 9.3 million to 10.5 million! We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work that was put into achieving this major milestone, and we look forward to striving for a sustainable path towards a thriving Amazon. 

We are excited to announce that Amazon Conservation will be participating in this year’s COP16: The United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia!

As nations across the globe are beginning to witness the necessity for environmental action, many may still be wondering: what exactly is COP16, and why does this matter? COP16 refers to the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Enacted in 1992, The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a global treaty that brings nations together in conserving the planet’s biodiversity and developing sustainable solutions to using its resources. COP meetings are held biennially, and member countries gather to discuss new conservation strategies, and solutions to global issues concerning biodiversity, and assess progress in the implementation of the CBD. While many goals within the CBD require collective action, every nation is anticipated to contribute to making their own agreed-upon goals and targets a reality.

COP16 seeks to assess and advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15, which establishes 2030 targets and 2050 goals to stop biodiversity loss, safeguard ecosystems, and foster sustainable development. As this year’s COP is hosted in an incredibly biodiverse landscape, governments, NGOs, Indigenous leaders, and civil society will be given the opportunity to highlight solutions and opportunities for preserving vital ecosystems and reversing habitat loss: both of which our entire planet depends on. 

In addition to participating in these imperative discussions, our organization will be hosting a special side event that highlights the issue of illegal gold mining, one of the most prominent threats to the Amazon basin. This side-event will detail various solutions devised and implemented to intervene against illegal mining via collaboration with civil society organizations who are monitoring the expansion of gold mining in real-time, compelling governments, and tracking the illicit financial flows that fuel its expansion. 

Date, time, and location of our event is subject to change as COP organizers finalize the schedule of side events. Sign up here to receive updates on it.

We look forward to having a presence at such a globally significant event that strives for conservation solutions that will benefit all who depend on Earth’s most vital ecosystems. 

Learn more about COP16

Out-of-control fires have been sweeping across the Amazon, coating the skylines of countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru with thick clouds of ash and smoke, leading to wildlife loss, school and facility closures, flight cancellations, and mass evacuations. Following a series of droughts earlier in the year, what was once a 3-month fire season has turned into a flaming 6-month nightmare, causing government officials to desperately seek international relief in hopes of stopping further damage to Amazonian forests and local communities. 

Using novel data from our real-time Amazon Fires Monitoring app, we documented over 260 major fires across the Amazon during last year’s fire season, impacting millions of acres of pristine forests. With this year’s high rates of deforestation in the Amazon and unprecedented droughts, we are seeing another severe fire season. Our Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Program (MAAP) Director Matt Finer has noted that our team is closely monitoring the current situation to help our sister organizations and partners on the ground take adequate action in understanding and preventing the spread of these fires. 

For the past few years, thanks to the generous support of our donor community, Amazon Conservation has helped local governments, communities, and the army in Bolivia – one of the countries most impacted by wildfires – mitigate fire risk by providing technical training and proper equipment to local fire brigades. Unfortunately, many local communities and municipalities’ firefighting teams are extremely underfunded and cannot fight these fires alone. In some parts of the Beni region, local fire brigades don’t even have access to water to combat fires, so this support we provide is vital to help prevent and combat fires. 

Despite these roadblocks, not all hope is lost. You can directly support our on-the-ground fire prevention and response efforts, including purchasing much-needed firefighting supplies and safety gear, mobilizing fire brigades to combat fires in remote regions, and supporting fire-free development and education programs to prevent future fires.

YOU have the power to protect these irreplaceable forests and the wildlife that call them home from potential destruction. Please consider supporting our efforts below. 

 

Take action and donate today!

A series of our previous MAAP reports have demonstrated the emergence and expansion of illegal gold mining deforestation in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, particularly in the area surrounding the Punino River, located between the provinces of Napo and Orellana. In our most recent report on this area (MAAP #206), this mining impact had expended into 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land.

MAAP’s newest report, MAAP #219, provides an update on the growing mining activity in and around the Punino River basin during the first half of 2024. The Base Map presented here shows an increase of 420 hectares in 2024, bringing the total impact to 1,422 hectares since its inception in 2019. This total is equivalent to more than 2,000 professional soccer fields.

The Base Map also shows that the vast majority (90%) of the mining deforestation is likely illegal, occurring outside the limits of authorized mining areas. Mining deforestation has rapidly expanded to enter the limits of two protected areas: Sumaco-Napo Galeras National Park and El Chaco Municipal Conservation Area. In addition, mining deforestation is actively expanding within the boundaries of Indigenous territories of the Kichwa nationality.

Utilizing a series of satellite-based maps, this report details the rapid increase in this mining deforestation, especially in these protected areas and Indigenous territories.

Read the full report here.

 

Did you know that September 5th is International Amazon Rainforest Day? 

Originally started in Brazil to commemorate the creation of the Province of Amazonas, this day celebrates the global importance and beauty of the Amazon Rainforest and calls for urgent action to protect this vast biodiverse biome. This Amazon Rainforest Day, Amazon Conservation is celebrating the supporters and activists who are helping spread awareness about the impacts of climate change on the planet’s most vital resources. One of our youngest climate activists is 9-year-old Indigo, who has spent much of her summer writing songs and raising money to protect the Amazon. 

As she prepares to start the 5th grade, Indigo is working hard to spread the message of the importance of stopping global warming and protecting the Amazon. She wants people to understand how important the Amazon Rainforest is for the planet because the forest’s trees help clear the air we breathe from pollution and absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

“Global warming is a big problem, and I like all animals and I think all of them deserve to be protected.” – Indigo

Indigo encourages people “to get out there and tell the world about what’s wrong because that’s the best that you can do: spread awareness,” which is exactly what she has been busy doing this summer. In addition to reading her favorite books and playing her favorite board games, Indigo loves writing songs and playing the electric guitar, which she has played since she was 4. She has found that music is a great outlet for her climate activism, giving her space to share her message with the public and fundraise for the Amazon.

With the support of her mom Fiona, Indigo recently spent a day busking on the street, singing and playing guitar to raise funds for Amazon Conservation. Thanks to her hard work, Indigo raised an incredible $260 for our work to build a thriving and resilient Amazon!

To further her activism for the planet, Indigo has been working on her first rock song called “Nothing” about climate change. She is very eager to share her song with the public and was happy to share the lyrics for “Nothing” with our supporters: 

The Earth is burning all around us, and what do we do? Nothing.

The Earth is warming, glaciers melting, and rainforests disappearing. 

And what do we do? Nothing, nothing, nothing.

 

[Chorus:] How can we live in a world that’s going down?

We must do something to save our generation.

We must do something, not nothing.

 

The Earth is broken, but we can fix it by building up what we broke.

You can do something. Small, big, every effort counts.

Even one little thing – you can do something.

 

[Chorus:] How can we live in a world that’s going down?

We must do something to save our generation.

We must do something, not nothing.

Indigo plans to incorporate this catchy tune into her future fundraising efforts, but in the meantime encourages people to do even small things to help the planet. As her song says, whether it’s donating to or fundraising for a cause, picking up trash, using the car less, or trying to use clean energy, we must all do something, even if it feels small.

How is Indigo celebrating Amazon Rainforest Day? She plans to continue raising awareness and funds to help the planet by busking on the streets with her guitar and catchy rock songs. Eventually, she hopes to work on inventions that will do even more to help the Earth. So if you see Indigo out there, stop by and learn more about the importance of stopping global warming!

Looking for other ways to make a difference and protect the Amazon in honor of Amazon Rainforest Day? Consider incorporating a legacy gift in your will during National Make-A-Will-Month, exploring our non-cash donation options, or one of the many other ways to make a contribution for the Amazon.