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Uncontrolled Illegal Mining and Garimpo in the Brazilian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Luiz Cortinhas Ferreira Neto

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation
    PPGEE)

  • Cesar Guerreiro Diniz

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation
    PPGG
    Harvard)

  • Raian Vargas Maretto

    (University of Twente)

  • Claudio Persello

    (University of Twente)

  • Maria Luize Silva Pinheiro

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation)

  • Marcia C. Castro

    (Harvard)

  • Luis Waldyr Rodrigues Sadeck

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation
    Amazon Regional Center)

  • Alexandre Fernandes Filho

    (INPE)

  • Julia Cansado

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation)

  • Arlesson Antonio de Almeida Souza

    (Solved - Solutions in Geoinformation
    Amazon Regional Center)

  • Jeremias Pinto Feitosa

    (Amazon Regional Center)

  • Diogo Corrêa Santos

    (PPGG
    ITV)

  • Marcos Adami

    (INPE)

  • Pedro Walfir M. Souza-Filho

    (PPGG
    ITV)

  • Alfred Stein

    (University of Twente)

  • Andre Biehl

    (Department of Computer Science)

  • Aldebaro Klautau

    (PPGEE)

Abstract

Mining has played an important role in the economies of South American countries. Although industrial mining prevails in most countries, the expansion of garimpo activity has increased substantially. Recently, Brazil exhibited two moments of garimpo dominance over industrial mining: 1989–1997 and 2019–2022. While industrial mining sites occupied ~ 360 km2 in 1985 but increased to 1800 km2 in 2022, a 5-fold increase, garimpo mining area increased by ~ 1200%, from ~ 218 km2 in 1985 to ~ 2627 km2 in 2022. More than 91% of this activity is concentrated in the Amazon. Where almost 40% of the sites are five years old or younger, this proportion increases to 62% within Indigenous lands (ILs). Regarding the legal aspect, at least 77% of the 2022 extraction sites showed explicit signs of illegality. Particular attention must be given to the Kayapo, Munduruku, and Yanomami ILs. Together, they concentrate over 90% of the garimpo across ILs.

Suggested Citation

  • Luiz Cortinhas Ferreira Neto & Cesar Guerreiro Diniz & Raian Vargas Maretto & Claudio Persello & Maria Luize Silva Pinheiro & Marcia C. Castro & Luis Waldyr Rodrigues Sadeck & Alexandre Fernandes Filh, 2024. "Uncontrolled Illegal Mining and Garimpo in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54220-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54220-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Morgane M.C. Fritz & James Mcquilken & Nina Collins & Fitsum Weldegiorgis, 2018. "Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues," Post-Print hal-02547257, HAL.
    3. Yuanwei Qin & Xiangming Xiao & Fang Liu & Fabio Sa e Silva & Yosio Shimabukuro & Egidio Arai & Philip Martin Fearnside, 2023. "Forest conservation in Indigenous territories and protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 295-305, March.
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