Peru's Operation Mercury stopped most illegal gold mining in one

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a lifeline for many who live in Madre de Dios, a region in southeastern Peru, where poverty is high and jobs are scarce. But the economic development in this part of the basin comes at a cost, as it causes deforestation, build up of sediment in rivers, and mercury contamination in nearby watersheds, threatening public health, Indigenous peoples, and the future of the biodiversity hotspot. And much of the mining activity is unauthorized.

Illegal mining has muddied tropical rivers worldwide, Science

Exploring the Parallel Economy That Illegal Gold Mining Created in

Gold Mining in Countries: an overview - Aid Foundation

Gold rush, mercury legacy: Small-scale mining for gold has

Mercury-free mining: UNDP, GEF and the Government of Peru work

Peru's 'Wonder Woman' battles illegal gold mining in the

A Toxic Trade: Illegal Mining in Peru's

Grim Prospects for Sustainable Mining in Peru

Exploring the Parallel Economy That Illegal Gold Mining Created in

Mercury-Based Gold Mining Haunts Peruvian Rain Forests - Eos