Illegal Mining Is Destroying the Amazon and Accelerating Climate Change

Illegal mining is booming in the Amazon, and that’s bad news for one the earth’s most important natural spaces. The Amazon is home to an incalculable array of plants and animals. A number of indigenous communities also make their home in the world’s largest rainforest, which spans several countries in South America. Every year, the Amazon absorbs billions of tons of carbon dioxide, making it a crucial hedge against human-caused climate change.