Photograph: João Laet/The Guardian“I know it is illegal,” says Bernardo Gomes, 59, sitting by the frame of a bar. Photograph: João Laet/The GuardianIndigenous people used to call this upriver region Paixão de Mutum – or Curassow’s Passion – after the large, pheasant-like bird they hunted here. “But there is a lot of nature, no way you can kill it all.”Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mining has heavily impacted water quality. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Many of the g arimpeiros are from small towns in Brazil’s impoverished north and north-east. Photograph: João Laet/The GuardianA study carried out by Lutz and colleagues in Peru found water quality was severely impacted near ASGM sites.

Source: The Guardian January 13, 2020 06:00 UTC