Inside Brazil’s Amazon gold war News

The proximity with non-Indigenous culture and lack of economic alternatives make some young Mundurukus turn to illegal mining.

From chickens to cassava, Brazil’s Munduruku seek alternatives to mining

Fernanda Wenzel, Karla Mendes 20 May 2025

Illegal gold mining inside the Munduruku and Sai Cinza Indigenous Lands

Nine takeaways on Brazil’s crackdown on illegal mining in Munduruku lands

Aimee Gabay 23 Jun 2025

Two Munduruku boys walk along a river in the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land. Image by Anderson Barbosa / Greenpeace.

Inside Brazil’s Amazon gold war

Mongabay.com 23 Jun 2025

Munduruku people from the Sawré Muybu village gather in an assembly to receive feedback from Fiocruz on the hair sample test results determining levels of mercury contamination in people. Image by Joao Paulo Guimaeres via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

After crackdown on illegal miners, Indigenous Munduruku still grapple with health aftermath

Karla Mendes, Fernanda Wenzel 16 Jun 2025

The proximity with non-Indigenous culture and lack of economic alternatives make some young Mundurukus turn to illegal mining.

From chickens to cassava, Brazil’s Munduruku seek alternatives to mining

Fernanda Wenzel, Karla Mendes 20 May 2025

Munduruku in the Tapajós river, next to Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land, home to the Munduruku people, Pará state, Brazil. Photo by Valdemir Cunha / Greenpeace.

What pushes Indigenous Munduruku people to mine their land in Brazil’s Amazon?

Aimee Gabay 8 Apr 2025

Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) near the Tapajós river, next to Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land, home to the Munduruku people, Pará state, Brazil.

Officials share strategies to stop spread of illegal miners from Munduruku land

Aimee Gabay 18 Mar 2025

Two Munduruku boys walk along a river in the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land. Image by Anderson Barbosa / Greenpeace.

Brazil’s crackdown on illegal mining in Munduruku Indigenous land sees success, but fears remain

Aimee Gabay 12 Mar 2025

Latest Specials

Trekking through the Cardamom Tented Camp concession in Botum Sakor National Park Photo by Gerald Flynn

Carving up the Cardamoms

Can anyone save the Sumatran rhino?

Solar panels in an arid part of Sudan.

Negotiating Africa’s Energy Future

Letters to the Future

Natural forests, like this one in Indonesia, contain hundreds of native species that all contribute to the ecosystem services they provide. Protecting standing forests is quicker and cheaper than replanting lost ones. Many forests can regenerate on their own with a little assistance, but where tree planting is needed, it must aim to restore natural diversity and support local communities. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.

Tech for the Trees

Trawlers docked outside Sihanoukville. Screenshot from ‘Illegal fishing and land grabs push Cambodian coastal communities to the brink’ by Andy Ball / Mongabay.

Chaos on Cambodia’s Coast

Conversations with Mongabay leaders

Voices from the Land

Interested in other Mongabay websites?

Earth HQ

Data Studio

Conservation Effectiveness

Mongabay Latam

Reforestation App

Mongabay Indonesia

News and Inspiration from Nature's Frontline.

Collage featuring Jeffrey Lendrum

Rainforest in Brunei in 2025. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler

Mangroves on Vanua Levu Island, Fiji. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.

you're currently offline