Assessing the Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale and Illegal Mining in the Amazon

Please join Ryan Berg, Senior Fellow in the CSIS Americas Program for a virtual discussion on the impacts of artisanal, small-scale, and illegal mining in the Amazon.

Gold mining contributes to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people throughout the Amazon and, if regulated effectively, is an industry with great economic potential. However, the prevalence of illegal mining and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) poses enormous human and environmental costs, ranging from pollution and deforestation to human trafficking and exploitation of minors. Further, illegal mining and ASM intersects with the growing regional security threat posed by guerilla groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the dissident members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-D) as they collect revenues and fund their operations from illegal mining operations.

This event will discuss the human, environmental, and security costs of illegal mining and ASM throughout the Amazon, the intersection of mining activities with transnational criminal organizations in the region, and the potential for mining to become a more sustainable enterprise with an effective regulatory system in place that promotes collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Panelists will share their expert insights on environmental, human rights, and security concerns related to ASM and illegal mining in the Amazon.

This event was made possible due to generous support from Conservation X Labs.