Gold Mining is one of the major deforestation drivers across the Amazon, often targeting remote areas such as protected areas and indigenous territories. Given the vastness of the Amazon, accurately monitoring mining deforestation in the most real-time, up-to-date format has been a challenge.

To help better analyze deforestation patterns, our latest MAAP report, MAAP #212, gathers results from a new machine learning-based tool known as Amazon Mining Watch, which analyzes satellite imagery archives to detect mining deforestation across the entire Amazon. Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), focuses on the development of algorithms and statistical models that allow computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. In this case, the use of machine learning in MAAP helps provide a more prompt and accurate analysis of mining deforestation across the entire biome by producing 10-meter resolution mining deforestation alerts based on the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The alerts currently cover each year annually from 2018 to 2023.

This data collected from Amazon Mining Watch reveals that gold mining is actively causing deforestation in all nine countries of the Amazon Biome.

We estimate that as of 2018, there was a historical mining deforestation footprint of over 963,000 hectares across the Amazon. Between 2019 and 2023, we estimate the mining deforestation footprint grew by over 944,000 hectares (2.3 million acres).

Thus, of the total accumulated mining deforestation footprint of over 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres), about half has occurred in just the past five years.

The countries with the most overall mining deforestation are 1) Brazil 55%, 2) Guyana (15%), 3) Suriname (12%), 4) Venezuela (7%), and 5) Peru (7%).

We also present five case studies that highlight the power of the data to see recent trends in mining deforestation.

A. Southern Peruvian Amazon. In one of the most emblematic mining sites in the Amazon, we recorded over 135,000 hectares of mining deforestation, of which 38% (51,000 ha) has occurred in just the past five years. We also highlight that 41% (55,000 hectares) is likely illegal.

B. Brazilian Amazon – Yanomami Indigenous Territory. The data shows a major escalation and expansion of gold mining deforestation since 2018, especially along the Uraricoera and Mucajai Rivers. Specifically, we documented the total mining deforestation of over 19,000 hectares, of which the vast majority (93%) has occurred in just the past five years.

C. Brazilian Amazon – Kayapó Indigenous Territory. We documented the mining deforestation of nearly 50,000 hectares, of which 60% (30,000 has) has occurred in just the past five years.

D. Venezuelan Amazon – Yapacana National Park. We documented the mining deforestation of over 6,000 hectares in the southern part of the park, of which just over half (52%) has occurred in just the past five years.

E. Ecuadorian Amazon – Punino zone. We documented the mining deforestation of over 500 hectares in the Punino River area, of which 100% is new (starting in 2023).

Read the full report here.

In addition to our incredibly dedicated staff members, our Board of Directors is made up of passionate science, business, and civic leaders who provide their expertise and financial support to help guide our mission in the most strategic direction. With their commitment to protecting the Amazon Rainforest, we can help take action on the ground for both people and wildlife.

For Board Chair Jim Brumm, who joined Amazon Conservation’s Board of Directors in 2016, the great outdoors has always been a place of solace, especially for bird watching. He has traveled near and far to marvel at the vast array of bird species across the globe and was lucky enough to find the opportunity to become a Board Member through this passion. Jim is also deeply interested in and committed to conservation, Indigenous peoples, and community rights and development, and has served and continues to serve on a number of boards involved in bird conservation, Indigenous peoples’ rights, animal welfare, and conservation science.

Read on to learn about Jim’s journey to taking an active role in protecting the Amazon rainforest!

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Can you tell us a little about you?

I grew up in Fresno in Central California and lived there through college. I then went east to go to law school and after becoming a lawyer I worked in law firms in New York and Tokyo. In between New York and Tokyo, I traveled in a camping van through Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union for nine months and not only saw big cities and small towns but camped on beaches in southern Morocco, in the Sahara desert beyond the Atlas Mountains and north of the Arctic Circle. This journey gave me an appreciation of how we are all interconnected and how nature is one. I’ve lived in Japan for a total of five years and in Australia for one year and have traveled extensively for work and for environmental non-profit efforts I have had many opportunities to see how the world is changing and how the environment is being impacted. I spent most of my work career at a major Japanese trading company, Mitsubishi Corporation, and was their executive vice president and general counsel in the US. I was also on the board of directors in Japan. I have over the years and currently serve on a number of NGO boards, primarily bird and environmental conservation, and Indigenous people’s rights. I love being in the outdoors and exploring new places. I am not very good but I am a very enthusiastic birder and have birded on every continent except Antarctica.

What got you interested in environmental conservation?

When I was growing up in Central California, I often went camping and spent time in the Sierras and enjoyed nature. However, beyond a general interest in nature and in environmental conservation, I was not actively engaged until the company where I worked, Mitsubishi Corporation, became the target of an environmental campaign. I was put in charge of responding to the campaign. I realized I needed to understand the underlying issues involved and so I began to research the issues and the organizations involved in protecting the environment. Through that engagement in environmental issues, I came to recognize the threats to the environment and how important it was to protect the environment. Once I understood that, I knew I had to become involved in protecting the environment.

How did you initially learn about Amazon Conservation?

The first time I encountered Amazon Conservation was when co-founder Adrian Forsyth speaking at an American Bird Conservancy (ABC) event. Amazon Conservation sometimes used space from ABC so I sometimes met Adrian after that. Jeff Woodman, who was on the ABC board with me and on Amazon Conservation’s board of directors at the time, invited me and my wife Yuko to travel to Manu to see the work Amazon Conservation was doing. We stayed at the Conservación Amazónica-ACCA lodges at Wayqecha and Villa Carmen (now called Manu Biolodge), visited local villages and birded down the Manu road. I saw the beauty of Manu but also was made aware of the threats to its preservation. I also saw first-hand what Amazon Conservation and its sister organization Conservación Amazónica-ACCA were doing to protect the Amazon and knew I wanted to be involved.

As a Board Member, what are you most impressed/proud of from Amazon Conservation?

I am continually impressed with and awed by the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment of the staff and the board members of Amazon Conservation and its two sister organizations in Peru and Bolivia. These are people who are deeply committed to saving the Amazon and who have made sacrifices for the sake of the environment and for all of us. The staff are very talented and have the skills and expertise needed to accomplish what they are committed doing and are great collaborators with each other and with the people who live in the Amazon and the governments, bilateral and multilateral institutions and other NGOs engaged in protecting the Amazon. They are effectively carrying out and building on the vision and accomplishments of Amazon Conservation’s co-founders, Adrian Forsyth and Enrique Ortiz.

What have you learned from being a Board Member?

I have come to have a much deeper understanding of the importance of the Amazon, its threats and how best to preserve it and the livelihoods of the people who live there. I have been able to see firsthand how a shared vision among the staff and board of Amazon Conservation and the staff and board of Amazon Conservation’s two sister organizations (Conservación Amazónica-ACCA in Peru and Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA in Bolivia) executed by dedicated staff can effectively work on the ground to protect the Amazon. I have also experienced the joy of working with board members engaged in a common mission and learning from them in so many ways.

Why do you think it is important to protect the Amazon rainforest?

As the world’s largest rainforest, failure to protect it will have disastrous consequences for the world’s climate. If we don’t protect it, not only will the people who live in the Amazon and who are dependent on it remaining sustainable be harmed, but also the world at large will suffer serious consequences. Not only does the Amazon encompass the single largest remaining tropical rainforest in the world, it also houses at least 10% of the world’s known biodiversity, including endemic and endangered flora and fauna, and its river accounts for 15-16% of the world’s total river discharge into the oceans. The loss of this biodiversity would have catastrophic consequences beyond our imagination.

What would you say to other environmentally-conscious people who want to make a difference in the Amazon and help fight climate change?

Contribute financially to the organizations engaged in protecting the Amazon, get involved as volunteers and as board members of those organizations. Become politically active in supporting legislation and government funding for the Amazon. Visit the Amazon and see for yourself the beauty of the Amazon and deepen your understanding of the threats and challenges to the Amazon and appreciate how the efforts of organizations like Amazon Conservation are making a difference.

Do you have anything else to add that you’d like people to know?

I find working with the people at Amazon Conservation, their sister organizations, and their other partners one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life.

 

Our newest MAAP report, MAAP #196, shows the results of the socio-environmental impacts caused by illegal mining using a unique tool, the “Illegal Gold Mining Impact Calculator” developed by Conservation Strategy Fund – CSF.

Illegal gold mining has generated massive deforestation in the southern Peruvian Amazon (MAAP #208), and has contaminated the area’s major rivers, tributaries, and secondary water bodies with toxic substances such as mercury and arsenic. Thus, illegal mining generates large economic losses due to the direct impact on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and other more sustainable economic activities.

Quantifying these impacts in monetary terms has been a challenge for national authorities lacking adequate instruments for establishing economic values of illegal mining’s negative impact on the Amazon. In this context, the organization Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) recently presented the Mining Impacts Calculator. This novel digital economic valuation tool allows users to calculate the social and environmental cost of illegal gold mining in the Amazon.

These results show an economic loss of 593 million dollars for the socio-environmental impacts generated by deforestation, sedimentation, and contamination in just the short period between January 2022 and August 2023.

Read the full report here.

As of late April, Amazon Conservation has officially become a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an institution that unites governments and civil society to advance sustainable development for a world that deeply values nature. 

With over 1,400 member organizations and and a network of over 16,000 scientists, the IUCN drives conservation among organizations across multi-national levels to bring the necessary, knowledge, tools, and resources to progress toward safeguarding the natural world. Since its creation in 1948, it has become the world’s most prevalent environmental network and continues to build on human and economic development to address key conservation areas such as species survival, environmental law, protected areas, social and economic policy, ecosystem management, and education and communication. Each organization in the ICUN plays a unique role in a democratic process, where they can contribute to discussions, agendas, and resolutions that develop the foundation for global conservation. This system has helped to establish significant environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

To expand our reach across the Amazon and globally, Amazon Conservation has formed alliances and partnerships both on the ground and internationally to strengthen conservation efforts and maximize its impacts. Starting in Peru, we began working with local government officials and organizations to address gaps in deforestation prevention to improve technological capacity for forest monitoring and help indigenous communities defend their territories. While it is urgent that we address solutions to deforestation to help protect lands, we also recognize that the Amazon has become vulnerable to other threats such as wildlife trade, land conversion, and various other illegal activities. Considering this, we co-founded the Nature Crime Alliance, a global multi-sector initiative led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to fight environmental crimes across the globe. 

Now, as a part of the IUCN, we aim to continue expanding our allyships to raise awareness for nature-positive solutions and strengthen our efforts to help combat negative climate and environmental impacts in the Amazon.

Thanks to support from USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), we’ve been able to publish a series of reports on the dynamic situation of gold mining in the southern Peruvian Amazon over the past several years.

Illegal gold mining continues to raise concern in this area, eliminating thousands of hectares of primary forest in the Madre de Dios region. The Peruvian government responded to this crisis with Operation Mercury at the beginning of 2019, followed by the Restoration Plan in 2021. MAAP #208 summarizes the complex mining situation from January 2021 to March 2024 in the southern Peruvian Amazon and outlines the gradual effects of illegal mining on its forests.

We documented the total mining deforestation of 30,846 hectares (76,200 acres) during this period, equivalent to over 40,000 soccer fields. Of this total, three-quarters (74%) of mining deforestation has occurred within the Mining Corridor, a large area where the government permits small-scale mining as part of a formalization process. Thus, the vast majority of mining deforestation is not necessarily illegal, because it is in the corridor designated for this activity. The remaining one-quarter (26%) of mining deforestation corresponds to probable illegal mining occurring in prohibited areas outside the Mining Corridor.

The majority of this illegal mining deforestation is occurring in Native Communities and buffer zones of Protected Areas. Additionally, in the second half of the report, we describe (for the first time) our strategic collaboration with the regional representative organization of indigenous peoples, known as FENAMAD. This process has led to the execution of 5 major government operations between 2022 and 2024.

Read the full report here. 

Chivi Vireo  (Vireo chivi)

It’s a great day to be a birder! Each year on the second Saturday of May in North America, bird enthusiasts near and far come together to celebrate and raise awareness for the importance of migratory bird conservation. While migration for some birds is an important element of their life cycle to ensure the longevity and reproduction of their species, it also acts as a vital contributor to the ecological balance in the Amazon and other various ecosystems. 

This year, World Migratory Bird Day focuses on the importance of insects, which are a key element in the diet of many migratory birds, providing essential nutrients and energy needed to breed and travel long distances. In turn, birds play a crucial role in the natural food chain, helping to control pest and insect populations to minimize disruptions to the ecosystem. Leading up to their migration, birds enter a state called hyperphagia, which gives them the feeling of insatiable hunger that leads them to consume as much food as possible to build up energy in their systems. Their journey and destination choice are largely dependent on the availability of food sources, so protecting insect species to fuel the migration of these bird species is critical. Likewise, it’s important to maintain a balanced bird population to prevent insect overpopulation, which could lead to overwhelming the ecosystem with serious negative impacts on plants and agriculture.

The Amazon is a critical wintering ground (a location where birds migrate to spend the winter months) for numerous “neotropical migratory birds”, which are birds that fly to South America (or other tropical areas) from other regions during the winter months to take advantage of the warmer climate and abundant food resources. During their seasonal stay, not only are they helping control insect and pest populations, but they are also contributing to seed dispersal, pollination, and nutrient cycling in the forest. Our Wayqecha and Manu Biological Stations currently protect about 10,000 acres of forest home to key insect and bird species, helping to ensure longevity and keep populations stable. As of 2018, 32 species of migratory birds have been identified at our biological stations, with our Manu Biological Station holding the most among our 3 stations with 26 species identified. 

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Broad-Winged Hawk

The incredibly vast array of biodiversity within the Amazon provides critical habitat and food resources for birds from across the continent. Protecting tropical forests not only helps ensure the well-being of migratory birds but also so future generations can experience such a spectacle. Bird migration is more than just a sight to see: it is a vital part of many birds’ life cycles that help regulate various ecosystems. Our feathered friends act as seed dispersers, insect and pest controllers, pollinators, and nutrient cycling that keep forests healthy, so if you ever have the opportunity to witness such an important natural event, be sure to remember all they do for us and our planet! 

As Earth Month draws to a close, we want to share the impact of your contribution this month to honor nature and protect biodiversity conservation in the Amazon. All ecosystems, near and far, are interconnected and depend on the health of the planet. Protecting the rainforest’s diverse ecosystems and biodiversity is crucial to protecting wildlife, people, and ways of life across the globe. 

By becoming a champion for nature and biodiversity today, you are joining a movement with long-term global impacts. Here’s what taking action can look like: 

• Your contribution of $25 can plant 20 trees to restore damaged habits in the Amazon. 
• Your contribution of $50 can protect about 2 acres of Andean bear habitat, a keystone species that helps regenerate forests through seed dispersal.
• Your contribution of $100 can guarantee the protection of 500 acres at our Los Amigos Conservation Hub and protected area in the Peruvian Amazon for one year.
• Your contribution of $250 can prevent 5,400 metric tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere through the protection of standing forests, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of over 1,000 cars.
• Your contribution of $5,000 can train one local community member in drone operations to monitor up to 500 acres of forests, helping identify and combat illegal deforestation.

Make a difference today!

By strengthening our on-the-ground conservation efforts and supporting sustainable production, you are helping us work across boundaries to combat nature crimes and empower local people to strengthen forest-based economies as essential steps in improving the well-being of local communities, safeguarding nature, and protecting the region’s rich biodiversity.

Learn more about how you can honor nature and support biodiversity protection this Earth Month!

On March 11th, representatives from our sister organizations Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA and Conservación Amazónica-ACCA met with the Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest – FCBC from Bolivia and Aktion Amazonas – AKAM from Denmark in Puerto Maldonado, Peru to formalize the creation of South American Forest Conservation Alliance (SAFCA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This new alliance represents the beginning of an international effort committed to conserving biodiversity and sustainable development in the Amazon and Chiquitanía, a tropical savannas region in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia.

SAFCA aims to integrate collective efforts in addressing environmental issues and initiate solutions for protecting biodiversity, the rights of local and indigenous people, and combating deforestation in the Amazon. The main objective is to form a strategic approach via landscape connectivity for conserving the tropical forests that stretch from the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest to the Bolivian Chiquitano Forest in Santa Cruz. 

Conservación Amazónica – ACCA coordinated this event to exchange experiences between indigenous leaders, environmental defenders, and Peruvian national authorities to help understand what issues and environmental crimes threaten the Amazon, and how legal action can be taken to address such. María Elena Gutiérrez and Marcos Terán, Executive Directors of Conservación Amazónica-ACCA and Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA respectively, attended this event on behalf of the alliance to emphasize the importance of the social and cultural factors surrounding the Amazonian-Chiquitano landscape, which are vital for understanding solutions for sustainable development and adequate adaptation to climate resilience. Furthermore, FENAMAD Vice President Eusebio Ríos voiced his concerns about challenges faced by indigenous communities largely due to a high increase in illegal activities and violence in the Peruvian Amazon. In response, Toke F. Nyborg from Aktion Amazonas, highlighted the necessity for civil action among local communities and decision-makers when it comes to addressing major threats to the ecosystem. Technical team members from our Peru and Bolivia teams also shared their fieldwork, monitoring initiatives, climatic data, and experiences working with young people and community leaders in environmental monitoring and advocacy. 

Amazon Conservation and its alliance has had a long history of teaming up with partners across the Amazon to initiate effective conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and local and indigenous people. Overall, understanding key issues in the Amazon opens doors to opportunities for solutions and action-taking when conserving South America’s tropical forests. The formation of SAFCA will help lead to collective efforts in building climate reliance, strengthening livelihoods, and benefiting both the planet and humanity. 

Information and photos provided by Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA and Maia Galmés Feuer of Aktion Amazonas!

Happy Earth Day from all of us at Amazon Conservation!

We appreciate all you have done over the past weeks to honor nature and support biodiversity protection this Earth Month. In honor of Earth Day, join us in celebrating the one-of-a-kind biodiversity of the rainforest. We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the global and local importance of this region and how you can take action to help protect this unique biodiversity. 

The Amazon gives us up to 20% of the air we breathe, stores 25% of the world’s water, and stabilizes the Earth’s climate. A thriving Amazon matters to the people and wildlife living there, the countries it encompasses, and the world.  Together we can empower people to become champions for our environment, protect millions of acres of wild places, and put science and technology to work for conservation.

How YOU can make a real impact: 

• Support real work on the ground by making a contribution to honor nature and support biodiversity protection. Better yet, set up a recurring donation this Earth Day by marking your gift as “Monthly” and join our community of conservation heroes working together to build a collective movement to sustain the long-term conservation of the Amazon.
• Plant your seed today – at no cost to you today – to support long-term conservation goals by including Amazon Conservation in your will or trust. Create your will for free today.
• Enlist your friends and family in protecting the Amazon by creating a crowdfunding campaign this Earth Month!
• Spread the word about the importance of the Amazon with your friends and community by including us in your Giving Circle. Reach out to us at info@amazonconservation.org for more information.
• Maximize your impact on the planet by checking if your contribution is eligible for a match from your employer, by making a contribution from your Donor-Advised Fund, or by aligning your business with our mission by becoming a Business Partner. Learn more about these various Ways to Give here.
• Did you know we accept donations of stock, cryptocurrency, and Qualified Charitable Distributions? Learn more about these various Ways to Give here or reach out to donations[at]amazonconservation[dot]org with any questions.

By joining our on-the-ground conservation efforts, you are helping us work across boundaries to combat nature crimes to safeguard nature and biodiversity for all who depend on the forest.

By supporting sustainable production, you are empowering local people and strengthening forest-based economies as an essential step in improving the well-being of local communities, safeguarding nature, and protecting the region’s rich biodiversity.

This Earth Day, remember that your favorite local natural spot is connected to ecosystems near and far, including the Amazon. Protecting the rainforest’s diverse ecosystems and biodiversity helps protect wildlife, people, and ways of life across the planet. 

Thank you for standing with us this Earth Day to honor nature, protect biodiversity, and improve the well-being of local people!