KEY POINTS
- Indigenous involvement in illegal mining is growing, complicating enforcement.
- Jacareacanga’s booming economy thrives on illegal gold mining.
- Proposed solutions like carbon credits face skepticism due to challenges.
Illegal gold mining in Brazil’s Amazon has long been a significant issue. However, the involvement of Indigenous people, such as the Munduruku tribe, is making the situation even more difficult for environmental agents trying to curb the practice.
The price of gold has soared recently, drawing more and more people, including members of Indigenous communities, into illegal mining activities.
Despite the government’s strict laws against mining on Indigenous land, many tribe members are becoming involved in the trade, driven by poverty and the allure of quick cash.
The Munduruku reservation, which spans an area the size of Switzerland, is one of the most affected areas, with illegal mining activities spreading rapidly.
Challenges for enforcement agencies
Brazil’s environmental protection agency IBAMA has ramped up efforts to tackle illegal gold mining, sending agents in helicopters to bust illegal mining camps.
During one such operation, agents arrived to find a camp abandoned, the miners having fled at the sound of approaching helicopters. While they were unable to capture the illegal miners, the agents did destroy equipment and found evidence suggesting that Indigenous people were involved.
According to Reuters, many members of the Munduruku tribe remain divided over the issue. While most oppose illegal mining, the lack of government support for sustainable economic alternatives is forcing some to turn to gold prospecting to survive.
One miner, Samuel Manga Bal, recently discovered 60 grams of gold on the river, a life-changing find compared to his usual haul. But his success came with consequences.
His brother, Domingo, furious at his actions, threatened to kill him if he continued to mine. Faced with the threat, Manga Bal fled his village but still plans to return to mining when he can.
“I’m going back to mining because things are so bad now. We don’t even have coffee, there’s no sugar, nothing, just manioc flower,” Manga Bal explained.
Gold mining fuels Jacareacanga’s economy
Despite its evident challenges, Jacareacanga, the local town near the Munduruku reservation, has seen an economic boom driven by illegal gold mining.
The town’s per capita GDP is 90,000 reais ($15,157.38), far higher than Brazil’s financial capital, São Paulo. Much of this wealth is generated through illegal gold mining. However, this prosperity comes at a cost. While the town thrives, it operates outside the formal economy, with minimal tax collection and little oversight of the gold trade.
Some local leaders have proposed using carbon credits as a way to replace gold mining by providing a legal, sustainable revenue stream.
Jonathan Kaba Biorebu, a local chief, believes carbon credits could eventually bring in enough income to discourage illegal mining. However, he remains skeptical about the potential of such a scheme to provide a sufficient alternative for the region’s impoverished residents.
A complex situation for policymakers
Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has pledged to end illegal mining in the Amazon, a task made more difficult by the rise in local involvement.
Tribal leaders estimate that around 40 percent of the gold mining on the Munduruku reservation is now carried out by Indigenous people. This makes evicting miners more difficult, as the government’s efforts are complicated by the very people they aim to protect.
Meanwhile, police corruption is exacerbating the problem. According to a document seen by Reuters, local officers have accepted bribes from gold mining businesses to ignore illegal mining activities.
While some support the idea of legalizing informal mining, others, such as Nilton Tubino, the government coordinator for expelling miners from Indigenous territories, argue that doing so would only encourage larger mining companies to exploit the land. A bill to legalize informal mining remains stalled in Brazil’s Congress.
