How the global surge in gold prices is destroying the Amazon

In the Sararé Indigenous Territory, illegal mining has entirely devastated ancient forests. It has also heavily polluted waterways with mercury.

Faced with the ecological devastation and the escalating violence linked to the infiltration of armed criminal groups such as the Red Commando, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made the eradication of these settlements a top priority, marking a clear break from the laissez-faire approach of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

Recently, major operations have been carried out by security forces to expel the traffickers and raze all the clandestine enclaves. Faced with an extremely lucrative industry that adapts by operating at night, the task is proving to be arduous and highly dangerous.

A global crisis

While traveling through these devastated areas during an exclusive investigation for The Guardian, journalist Tom Phillips was able to observe and highlight the extent of the damage. Seen from above, the scene is chaotic. Long brown scars mark a territory that was once densely forested. Ponds, poisoned by mercury, serve as washing basins for the miners. Nilton Tubino, known as “Lula’s eviction czar,” highlights the impact of the current international climate: “The price of gold and this global madness are having a direct impact throughout the Amazon.”

Is this impact truly sustainable?

And despite the dozens of interventions already carried out, concerns remain. Will these results be sustainable? Jackson Katitãurlu, chief of the Nambiquara indigenous people living in the Sararé, bears witness to this local tragedy:“It’s a veritable desert. I was born and raised here, and when I saw this, I simply couldn’t believe my eyes.” His greatest fear? A systematic return of the gold miners as soon as the security forces withdraw. “If the operation is suspended, I think they’ll come back. They’ll come back 100 percent.”

For his part, Nilton Tubino reaffirms his determination to continue this fight, which is essential for the safety and protection of local communities, saying with a confident smile: “A holiday? That doesn’t exist.”