What's destroying the South American rainforest?
Most people would point to agriculture, cattle operations, and a booming population. But researchers are starting to recognize another threat: Gold mining.
According to a new study, gold mining razed 650 square miles of tropical forest in South America between 2001 and 2013. That may not sound like a lot — the area is about the size of Hong Kong — the devastation is far greater than just the loss in forest cover, said Mitchell Aide, a biologist at the University of Puerto Rico and an author of the report.
SEE ALSO: On the Trail of Illegal Gold Miners
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