A global
"gold rush" has led to a significant increase of deforestation in the
tropical forests of South America.
This is according to new research publish today, 14 January, in IOP
Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, which has
highlighted the growing environmental impact of gold mining in some of the most
biologically diverse regions in the tropics.
Researchers from the University of Puerto Rico have shown that between 2001
and 2013, around 1680 km2 of tropical forest was lost in South America as a
result of gold mining, which increased from around 377 km2 to 1303km2 since the
global economic crisis in 2007.
Furthermore, around 90 per cent of this forest loss occurred in just four
areas and a large proportion occurred within the vicinity of conservation
areas.
Lead author of the research Nora L. Álvarez-Berríos said: "Although
the loss of forest due to mining is smaller in extent compared to deforestation
caused by other land uses, such as agriculture or grazing areas, deforestation
due to mining is occurring in some of the most biologically diverse regions in
the tropics. For example, in the Madre de Dios Region in Perú, one hectare of
forest can hold up to 300 species of trees."
Driven by personal consumption and uncertainty in global financial markets,
global gold production has increased to meet rising demand, increasing from
around 2445 metric tons in 2000 to around 2770 metric tons in 2013.
Increased demand for gold has been paralleled by a dramatic increase in
price -- the price of gold increased from $250/ounce in 2000 to $1300/ounce in
2013.
This has stimulated new gold mining activities around the world and made it
feasible to mine for gold in areas that were not previously profitable for
mining, such as deposits underneath tropical forests.
This can lead to extensive forest loss and result in serious environmental
and ecological impacts, caused by the removal of vegetation, the set-up of
roads and railways for access and the creation of unorganised settlements.
Some of the long-term impacts include the failure of vegetation to regrow,
changing of rainfall patterns, the permanent loss of biodiversity, and a
release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
In their study, the researchers sought to quantify the impacts of gold
mines in tropical forests by creating a geographical database that highlighted
the location of newly developed mines between 2000 and 2013.
The database was then cross-referenced with annual land cover maps showing
the change of forest cover over the same period.
The study encompassed the tropical and subtropical forest biome in South
America below 1000 m, covering Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French
Guiana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Results showed that over the 13 year period, 89 per cent of forest loss
occurred in just four regions: the Guianan moist forest ecoregion; the
Southwest Amazon moist forest ecoregion; the Tapajós-Xingú moist forest
ecoregion; and The Magdalena Valley-Urabá region.
"To decrease the amount of deforestation that is occurring as a result
of gold mining in the tropical forests, it is important that awareness is
raised among gold consumers to understand the environmental and social impacts
of buying gold jewellery or investing in gold.
Before gold fever was cacao, soja or gum
"It is important to also encourage more responsible ways of extracting
gold by helping miners to extract in a more efficient way to reduce deeper
encroachment into the forests," continued Álvarez-Berríos.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by
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Journal
Reference:
- Nora L Alvarez-Berríos, T Mitchell Aide. Global demand for gold is another threat for tropical forests. Environmental Research Letters, 2015; 10 (1): 014006 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/10/1/014006
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