Brasília – The area affected by illegal mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Land (TIY) has fallen by 78.51% this year. The data comes from the Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System (Censipam), of the Ministry of Defense. In the first nine months of 2023, the area affected by illegal mining is 214 hectares, while in the same period of 2022, mining occupied 999 hectares. The federal government’s task force for the protection of indigenous people in the north of the country began in January this year and includes the participation of Defense, through the Armed Forces, and other federal bodies and agencies.
The methodology adopted in the report is more than 95% reliable, the result of cross-referencing data from various sources: the Brasil M.A.I.S (Integrated and Safe Environment) platform, from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security; the Terra Brasilis platform, from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE); the LandSat, Sentinel and CBERS satellite constellations; and aerial survey images with support from the Armed Forces. The data is analyzed by a team made up of geologists, geographers, statisticians and remote sensing specialists.
The reduction of almost 80% in the area affected shows that the presence of prospectors is currently residual (they remain in small areas in the region), with an average variation of 4 hectares over the last five months. The largest concentrations observed at the beginning of the year have been demobilized.
Environment – As a result of the joint efforts, it is possible to see that the region’s main rivers – Uraricoera and Mucajaí – have returned to their natural colors, as shown in the photos “Jul 2020” and “Jun 2020”. The most common chemical element used by prospectors is mercury. As well as being responsible for the yellowish color in the rivers, the liquid metal contaminates the water and soil, and affects the Yanomami’s diet, which is based on activities such as hunting, fishing, gathering fruit and roots.
Federal government task force – Since January of this year, the Armed Forces, federal bodies and agencies have been part of the federal government’s task force to protect the indigenous people in the north of the country. Currently, the Ágata Fronteira Norte Joint Command, under the coordination of the Armed Forces, is joining forces to prevent and repress cross-border and environmental crimes in the Yanomami Indigenous Land. The operation involves patrols, searches of people, land vehicles, boats and aircraft, and arrests in flagrante delicto.
So far, 146 miners have been arrested (all of whom have undergone a physical health examination and have been handed over to the Federal Police Superintendence) and 40 tons of cassiterite, 1,675 grams of gold and 808 pieces of equipment have been seized, in addition to the neutralization of illegal camps in the TIY region. The actions are being carried out in coordination with public security agencies.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***