Environment & Climate
Gold mining expands dramatically on Brazilian Indigenous lands, satellite analysis shows
Gold mining on Indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon expanded nearly sevenfold between 2016 and 2024, ABC News reports.
The short version
- A study by IPAM shows gold mining across the Amazon covered 20 times more area in 2024 than in 1985.[ABC News]
- On Indigenous lands, gold mining expanded nearly sevenfold between 2016 and 2024, with almost 90 percent of the impacted space concentrated in just three territories.[ABC News]
- Munduruku leaders reported that wildcat gold miners returned to their lands following federal operations aimed at expelling them in 2024 and 2025.[ABC News]
- Indigenous watchdogs in the Munduruku territory located 10 new illegal mining sites as of August.[ABC News]
Key facts
- Gold mining across the Amazon was 20 times larger in 2024 than in 1985, and grew nearly sevenfold on Indigenous lands between 2016 and 2024.[ABC News]
- Nearly 90 percent of the affected gold mining area on Indigenous lands is concentrated within three territories.[ABC News]
- Indigenous watchdogs identified 10 new illegal mining spots in Munduruku territory as of August.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The long-term effectiveness of federal enforcement efforts remains uncertain as illegal miners continue returning to expelled zones.[ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Gold mining expands fastest on Indigenous lands in Brazil’s Amazon, new analysis findsABC News - International