Venezuela's Orinoco Basin: Gold Mining Threatens Biodiversity
Fort Wayne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · The Daily News Now!
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Show Notes
Venezuelas Orinoco River Basin, a biodiversity hotspot, faces severe threats from illegal gold mining and oil extraction. The region, home to river dolphins, crocodiles, and over a thousand fish and bird species, provides water and power for millions. However, toxic mercury from mining pollutes rivers, and past oil spills have damaged the environment. The situation worsened in the early 2020s when government policies opened the sector to small operations, leading to criminal gangs and Colombian guerrillas running many sites. Local people and indigenous groups suffer from human trafficking, child labor, and sexual violence. Despite easing sanctions, the countrys deep poverty and inflation mean more extraction seems likely, raising fears for the basins future.
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