Peruvian Amazon Seeks Sustainable Artisanal Mining

In the Peruvian Amazon, thousands of people rely on gold mining, but the spread of mercury and deforestation threatens the region's biodiversity. A formalized artisanal mining operation in La Pampa is attempting to produce 'clean gold' using mercury-free technologies. Despite facing challenges such as roadblocks, violence, and government neglect, the operation seeks to prove that sustainable mining is possible. The operation's efforts are documented through a film that explores the daily lives of workers, merchants, and small-scale miners, highlighting the tensions between survival, pollution, and legitimacy in the Amazon's extractive economy. The film is supported by the Amazon Film Grant and the One World Media Fellowship. Mongabay's Video Team aims to cover topics that matter to the community, and invites readers to share their suggestions and ideas.