Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), a wealth-generating industry in many regions, is nonetheless a global challenge for governance and a threat to biodiversity, public health, and ecosystem integrity. In 2019, the Peruvian government mobilized a targeted, large-scale armed intervention against illegal ASGM, which has caused deforestation and water resource degradation in this Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot. Before the intervention, the extent of waterbodies created by mining (mining ponds) was increasing by 33%–90%/year; after, they decreased by 4%–5%/year in targeted zones. Mining activity indicators showed 70%–90% abandonment. New mining activity accelerated in nearby areas outside the targeted area (pond area increases: 42%–83%; deforestation increases +3–5 km²/year). Far from intervention zones, mining remained stable during the study period. Our analysis demonstrates that targeted, large-scale government intervention can have positive effects on conservation by stopping illegal mining activity and shifting it to permitted areas, thereby setting the stage for governance. Continued conservation efforts must further address the impacts of informal mining while (1) limiting environmental degradation by legal mining; (2) remediating former mining areas to reduce erosion and enable reforestation or alternative uses of the landscape; and (3) sustaining such efforts, as some miners began to return to intervention areas when enforcement relaxed in 2022.

中文翻译：

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汞行动：国家级武装部队干预和反腐败战略对秘鲁亚马逊手工金矿开采和水质的影响

尽管如此，手工和小规模采金业 (ASGM) 作为许多地区的一个创富行业，仍然是全球治理的挑战，并对生物多样性、公共卫生和生态系统完整性构成威胁。2019年，秘鲁政府针对非法手工和小规模采金活动进行了有针对性的大规模武装干预，该活动造成了这个热带生物多样性热点地区的森林砍伐和水资源退化。在干预之前，采矿（矿池）产生的水体范围每年增加 33%–90%；此后，目标区域每年减少 4%–5%。采矿活动指标显示 70%–90% 被废弃。目标区域以外的附近地区新的采矿活动加速（池塘面积增加：42%–83%；森林砍伐增加+3–5 km ² /年）。远离干预区的采矿业在研究期间保持稳定。我们的分析表明，有针对性的大规模政府干预可以通过阻止非法采矿活动并将其转移到允许的区域，从而为治理奠定基础，从而对保护产生积极影响。持续的保护工作必须进一步解决非正规采矿的影响，同时 (1) 限制合法采矿造成的环境退化；(2) 修复前矿区以减少侵蚀并实现重新造林或景观的替代用途；(3) 维持此类努力，因为 2022 年执法放松后，一些矿工开始返回干预地区。