S7 E3: Gold Mining and Mercury in the Amazon

About this episode

The episode discusses the environmental and human crisis caused by illegal gold mining in the Amazon, focusing on mercury pollution and conservation efforts.

Across the Amazon Basin, the search for gold has unleashed a crisis both environmental and human. Illegal and small-scale gold mining depends on mercury to separate gold from stone. That mercury seeps into rivers, the air, and the food people eat, poisoning ecosystems and communities alike. This week, WCS Wild Audio has the story of how—from Ecuador to Bolivia —conservationists and Indigenous leaders are fighting back. Reporting: Nat Moss Guests: Sebastian Valdivieso, Óscar Loayza

People in this episode

Host: Nat Moss

Guests: Sebastian Valdivieso, Óscar Loayza

Topics covered

• gold mining
• mercury pollution
• environmental crisis
• Indigenous rights
• conservation efforts

Keywords

• gold mining
• mercury
• Amazon
• environmental crisis
• Indigenous leaders
• conservation

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Ecuador, Bolivia, Amazon Basin

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