Wed Apr 09 06:48:05 UTC 2025: ## Lula’s Crackdown Cuts Illegal Amazon Mining in Half, But Challenges Remain
**Sao Paulo, Brazil –** Illegal gold mining in Brazil’s Indigenous territories has been dramatically reduced since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, a new Greenpeace report reveals. The report, released Tuesday, shows a 75% decrease in land cleared by illegal mining during the first two years of Lula’s presidency compared to his predecessor’s term.
While 4,219 hectares of Amazon rainforest were destroyed under Lula’s administration, the figure was a significantly higher 16,000 hectares under Jair Bolsonaro from 2019 to 2022. This decrease is attributed to increased government efforts to evict mining camps and destroy equipment used in illegal extraction.
Greenpeace, however, cautions that illegal mining remains a major threat to the Amazon, contributing to deforestation, mercury contamination, biodiversity loss, and social unrest. The report, titled “Toxic Gold,” highlights a concerning 93% increase in mining activity in the Sarare region of Mato Grosso state, linked to organized crime. Illegal gold is also being exported globally, with Switzerland cited as a primary destination.
Lula’s administration has prioritized combating illegal mining as part of its commitment to fighting climate change, ahead of the upcoming UN climate talks in Belem in November. Thousands of Indigenous people have already converged on Brasilia to demand a greater voice in the conference. While overall deforestation has decreased under Lula, forest fires fueled by drought and heat have increased. The president, despite his environmental pledges, continues to face criticism for supporting offshore oil exploration near the Amazon River.
First Piper 