Peruvian Gold Mine Tries Mercury‑Free Approach Amid Environmental and Social Challenges

In Madre de Dios, Peru, gold mining supports thousands of livelihoods but also drives mercury pollution and deforestation in the Amazon. A formalized artisanal operation in La Pampa is testing mercury‑free technologies to produce “clean gold.” The project faces a complex mix of violence, informal economies, bureaucratic hurdles and limited government backing. A film produced under the Amazon Film Grant and One World Media Fellowship follows miners, workers and local businesses as they navigate these obstacles. The story highlights how environmental protection and economic survival are tightly linked in the region, and it questions whether small‑scale mining can realistically shift toward responsible practices without broader systemic support.