Steven Grattan

Illegal gold mining surges into new parts of Peru’s Amazon, threatening rivers and lives Illegal gold mining is spreading into new parts of Peru’s Amazon, and experts say it is driving a growing environmental and health crisis.

Illegal gold mining is spreading deeper into Peru’s Amazon, contaminating rivers with mercury and exposing Indigenous communities to serious health risks — even as authorities struggle to contain it.
apnews.com/article/peru...

Why Chile’s wildfires are spreading faster and burning hotter Chile is facing a severe wildfire emergency marked by unusually large and fast-moving fires that have killed people, destroyed homes and forced tens of thousands to flee.

Chile’s wildfires are burning hotter and spreading faster this summer, with deadly consequences.
This piece explains why: prolonged drought, extreme heat, strong winds, and landscapes reshaped by large pine and eucalyptus plantations — alongside human-caused ignitions.
🔗 apnews.com/article/chil...

Interpol-backed police make nearly 200 arrests in Amazon region gold mining sweep Police from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname have arrested nearly 200 people in their first-ever joint cross-border operation targeting illegal gold mining in the Amazon.

Police in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname, backed by Interpol, carried out the first coordinated cross-border crackdown on illegal gold mining in the Amazon region. Nearly 200 arrests. Gold, mercury, cash and weapons seized. My latest for @apnews.com:
apnews.com/article/ille...

Five face trial in Peru in rare prosecution over the killing of an Amazon defender Five men are set to stand trial in Peru over the 2023 killing of an Indigenous Amazon defender. The rare case, which is due to start on Tuesday, could test the legal accountability for violence linked...

A rare criminal trial has begun in Peru over the killing of Indigenous Amazon defender Quinto Inuma Alvarado. Advocates say the case could signal whether long-standing impunity for attacks on environmental defenders is finally being challenged. My story for AP: apnews.com/article/peru...

Why boosting production of Venezuela's 'very dense, very sloppy' oil could harm the environment Environmental experts warn that U.S. plans under President Donald Trump to restart and control Venezuelan oil exports could intensify pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and ecological damage in a cou...

New story for @AP on the environmental risks tied to U.S. plans under President Trump to revive Venezuela’s oil industry — from aging infrastructure to some of the world’s heaviest crude.

apnews.com/article/vene...

'It’s not safe to live here.' Colombia is deadliest country for environmental defenders Jani Silva is a renowned environmental activist in Colombia’s Amazon, but she has been unable to live in her house for nearly a decade.

Jani Silva is a renowned environmental activist in Colombia’s Amazon, but she has been unable to live in her house for nearly a decade.

Threats, armed men and bodyguards are facts of life for activists in Colombia's Amazon Jani Silva is a renowned environmental activist in Colombia’s Amazon, but she has been unable to live in her house for nearly a decade.

From Putumayo, I reported on one of Colombia’s most threatened environmental defenders: Jani Silva. She’s spent years protecting the Amazon despite constant threats, surveillance & security risks. Our new @apnews.com story shows what that reality looks like. apnews.com/article/colo...

Mercury treaty summit criticized for inaction on gold mining crisis A global mercury summit in Geneva has faced criticism from environmental and Indigenous groups for failing to act on mercury use in small-scale gold mining, the world’s top source of mercury pollution...

At a UN mercury summit in Geneva, countries agreed to end mercury use in dental fillings by 2034 — but took no major steps to curb its use in small-scale gold mining, now the leading source of mercury pollution worldwide.

apnews.com/article/merc...

Interpol announces a new global fight against illegal deforestation Interpol and partners have launched a global law enforcement effort to fight illegal deforestation in tropical areas.

Interpol, the U.N. & Norway are stepping up the global fight against forest crime.
A new phase of their joint program targets illegal logging, gold mining & timber trafficking across the Amazon, SE Asia & Pacific — just ahead of COP30 in Belém. 🌿🌎
apnews.com/article/inte...

A decade after Brazil’s deadly dam collapse, Indigenous peoples demand justice on the eve of COP30 Ten years after Brazil’s worst environmental disaster, the Indigenous Krenak people are still mourning what they call “the death of the river.”

Ten years on, the scars of Brazil’s worst environmental disaster remain.
The Krenak people are still fighting for justice — and for their river.

My latest looks at how the Mariana dam collapse continues to haunt Minas Gerais, as Brazil prepares to host #COP30.

🔗 apnews.com/article/braz...

Brazil’s Amazon deforestation falls 11% even as fires surge to record levels Brazil’s government says deforestation in the Amazon fell 11% in the year through July 2025 to its lowest level in nearly a decade, helped by stronger enforcement and monitoring.

🇧🇷5,796 square kilometers of forest were cleared between Aug. 24 - Jul 25 — an area nearly four times the size of New York City, but still a significant drop from the previous year and the lowest level in nearly a decade #COP30

🗒️ @sjgrattan.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/defo...

Brazil dismantles hundreds of illegal dredges in major Amazon mining crackdown Brazilian police with support from Interpol have destroyed 277 dredges used in illegal gold mining along the Madeira River in one of the largest coordinated crackdowns in the Amazon.

Brazilian police, backed by Interpol, dismantled hundreds of dredges used in illegal gold mining along the Madeira River — one of the largest crackdowns to date on environmental crime in the Amazon. The raids targeted criminal networks behind deforestation and river pollution.

Brazil’s Amazon deforestation falls 11% even as fires surge to record levels Brazil’s government says deforestation in the Amazon fell 11% in the year through July 2025 to its lowest level in nearly a decade, helped by stronger enforcement and monitoring.

🌳 Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon fell 11% over the past year, new government data shows — a rare bit of good news ahead of COP30. But fires hit record highs, underscoring how fragile the gains remain.
apnews.com/article/defo...

What to know about uncontacted Indigenous peoples and efforts to protect them A report says at least 196 uncontacted Indigenous groups remain worldwide and face growing threats from logging, mining, missionaries and organized crime.

A report says at least 196 uncontacted Indigenous groups remain worldwide and face growing threats from logging, mining, missionaries and organized crime. (AP video produced by Rosa Ramirez and Steven Grattan) apnews.com/video/what-t...

What to know about uncontacted Indigenous peoples and efforts to protect them A report says at least 196 uncontacted Indigenous groups remain worldwide and face growing threats from logging, mining, missionaries and organized crime.

Entire cultures in the Amazon could disappear without most of the world ever knowing they existed.
@AP: apnews.com/article/unco...

Interpol-led crackdown on environmental crime leads to 225 arrests in Latin America An Interpol-led operation spanning nine Latin American countries has led to 225 arrests and hundreds of new investigations into illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and gold mining.

Interpol has coordinated a major operation across Latin America targeting environmental crimes — from illegal gold mining to wildlife trafficking and deforestation.

The crackdown led to 225 arrests in 21 countries and the seizure of millions in assets.

apnews.com/article/lati...

South American trade bloc orders Peru to crack down on mercury trafficking and illegal gold mining A South American trade bloc has ruled that Peru is failing to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking.

The Andean Community has ordered Peru to curb mercury use tied to illegal gold mining in the Amazon. 🌎⚖️

It’s the first time the regional trade bloc has intervened in a case like this, after a complaint from Indigenous communities.
apnews.com/article/peru...

Gold demand puts Peru's Amazon at greater risk from mercury poisoning, bishop warns A Catholic bishop in Peru’s Amazon is warning that mercury from illegal gold mining is contaminating rivers, fish and people across the region.

As gold prices hit record highs, Peru’s Amazon faces a surge in illegal mining. Bishop Miguel Ángel Cadenas warns of mercury contamination, food insecurity & human rights risks. apnews.com/article/peru...

Indigenous leaders demand action from South American leaders at Amazon summit Indigenous leaders from the Amazon are urging South American presidents to turn promises into action at a summit in Bogota.

Indigenous leaders from across the Amazon are calling on South American presidents to turn promises into action — highlighting that this may be the first time they meet directly with heads of state to demand a say in shaping the rainforest’s future. apnews.com/article/colo...

In Ecuador, environmentalists worry Noboa is unwinding nation's green reputation Recent moves in Ecuador have environmental interests concerned that the South American nation is unwinding some of the basis for its green reputation.

Excellent article by @sjgrattan.bsky.social @apnews.com: “We're seeing a sweeping package of regressive reforms that are rolling back environmental protections, Indigenous rights guarantees, & threatening basic civil liberties...” - Kevin Koenig of @amazonwatch.org apnews.com/article/ecua...

Violent guerrillas are taking Colombia's children. Unarmed Indigenous groups are confronting them The Indigenous Guard of the Nasa people formed in Colombia in 2001 to protect Indigenous territories from armed groups and from environmental destruction such as deforestation and illegal mining.

In Colombia’s southwest, unarmed Indigenous Guards confront guerrillas recruiting children into war.

I followed their fight—and a mother’s daring mission to rescue her 13-year-old son.

Read here 👉
apnews.com/article/colo...

After taking back land in Colombia, Indigenous prepare their youth to safeguard it Indigenous Nasa children in Colombia's southwest region are being trained how to protect land their people have reclaimed from vast industrial sugarcane plantations.

In Cauca, Colombia, Indigenous youth are resisting armed groups — not with guns, but with ancestral knowledge and community defense.

My latest for @AP:
apnews.com/article/colo...

Peru passes law critics claim will hamper the ability of NGOs to defend human rights Peru’s Congress has passed a controversial reform expanding the powers of a government agency which oversees international aid.

Peru’s Congress has approved a controversial reform to the country’s international cooperation law which imposes sweeping restrictions on NGOs in a move human rights groups warn could cripple efforts to defend vulnerable communities and fight corruption.

Peru's Indigenous leaders raise concerns over oil and gas projects at a human rights hearing Indigenous leaders from the Peruvian Amazon have urged the government to halt oil and gas projects that threaten their lands, presenting their case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights...

Indigenous leaders from the Peruvian Amazon who are calling for the government to stop oil and gas projects in their territory took their case to an international human rights body on Tuesday.

apnews.com/article/peru...

Indigenous migrants in northern Colombia battle worsening droughts and floods In La Guajira, Colombia, the Wayuu people face worsening climate impacts, with droughts and intense rains causing food insecurity, flooding, and displacement.

The Wayuu are facing the dual threats of climate change-driven droughts and floods. Scientists warn that more severe, prolonged drought periods punctuated by flashes of torrential rain are only getting more common as the world warms.

UN talks end in Rome with nations backing $200 billion a year plan to protect nature Global negotiators concluded an extended session of the United Nations biodiversity conference, COP16, with key commitments on funds needed and the institutions through which the funds will be channel...

Multilateralism strikes back! You'd be forgiven in this crazy news environment for having missed last night's great result from Rome... (c/o @sjgrattan.bsky.social) apnews.com/article/clim...

In Rome, talks to protect Earth's biodiversity resume with money topping the agenda An annual United Nations conference on biodiversity that ran out of time last year will resume its work Tuesday in Rome with money at the top of the agenda.

COP16's biodiversity talks resume in Rome.... what's it all about? Read below.

Droughts, floods and economic uncertainty: Portraits of the Wayuu people in northern Colombia RIOHACHA, Colombia (AP) — Climate change is rapidly altering the way of life of the Indigenous Wayuu people, a semi-nomadic Indigenous group living in the arid La Guajira region, which spans northern Colombia and Venezuela.

Droughts, floods and economic uncertainty: Portraits of the Wayuu people in northern Colombia.

Indigenous resistance stalls Colombia's potential renewable energy boom in La Guajira The La Guajira region in northern Colombia, home to the Indigenous Wayuu community, holds vast potential for renewable energy, especially wind power, but projects have faced resistance.

My latest for @apnews.com
“We are really worried about the offshore wind farms,” said Wayuu fisherman Aaron Laguna Ipuana, 57, during an early morning fishing trip in Cabo de la Vela with his crew. “They’re going to displace us and the sea is everything to us. It sustains us.”

Amazon's advocates fear Trump's return means little US help to protect rainforest With Donald Trump settling back into the White House, advocates for the Amazon worry about what his second term will mean for the rainforest.

Hello! First post:

Amazon’s advocates fear Trump’s return means little US help to protect rainforest. With analysis from @amazonmiller.bsky.social & others

“The implications of the Trump administration for the Amazon rainforest range from very concerning to horrifying.”
apnews.com/article/trum...