Gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon has done more damage to peatlands in the last two years than in the previous three de

News Release 11-Mar-2025

Gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon has done more damage to peatlands in the last two years than in the previous three decades 

Peer-Reviewed Publication
IOP Publishing



Credit: IOP Publishing

New research published in the academic journal Environmental Research Letters reveals that artisan gold mining in the southern Peruvian Amazon has caused more destruction to carbon-rich peatlands in the past two years than in the previous three decades combined, posing a serious threat to the environment and climate.  

For decades, small-scale gold mining has thrived along the rivers of the Madre de Dios region, driven by gold frequently found in the surrounding soils. While the deforestation caused by mining has already resulted in significant carbon emissions, scientists have now discovered that the damage goes even deeper - literally.  

Using over 35 years of satellite data from NASA’s Landsat program, researchers tracked the spread of gold mining into Amazonian peatlands, which store large amounts of carbon underground. The findings are alarming: more than 550 hectares of peatland have been destroyed, releasing between 0.2 and 0.7 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Shockingly, over 55% of this damage has occurred in just the past two years, surpassing the cumulative destruction from all previous decades. 

Peatlands are vital because they hold carbon more densely than forests. In fact, the peatlands in this region store as much carbon as forests would on an area seven times larger. This means that even small areas of peatland loss can have a big impact on greenhouse gas emissions.  

More:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1076147