In July of 2017, in partnership with The Amazon Aid Foundation, I followed the agro-scientists of CINCIA (El Centro de Innvoación Científica Amazónica) in the Madre de Dios region of South Eastern Peru. In this area alluvial gold mining has wreaked havoc on the landscape. CINCIA is combating this environmental degradation by partnering with miners and using agroforestry poly-cropping to rejuvenate land affected by mining. The agro-scientists of CINCIA plant various native tree and plant species to extract mercury from the soil and combat erosion, both of which are widespread impacts of gold mining.
Wake Forest University students travel up the Rio Laberinto on their way CINCIA's agroforestry test plot in Distrito Laberinto. CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
The golden color of the mud and water in the Madre de Dios River is caused by the disturbance of sediment and contamination of gas and mercury from gold mining in the region. Once in the water, mercury turns into methylmercury which is absorbed into the body six times faster than regular mercury. Mercury poisoning affects the nervous system, kidneys, liver and brain function. three out of four residents of Madre de Dios have toxic levels of mercury.
Agroforestry specialists from CINCIA grow a wide variety of both native and exotic plant species at their nursery in Mazuco, Madre de Dios. Their goal is to determine what combinations of species work best to rejuvinate land destroyed by mining.
Agroforestry specialist Franciso Roman, speaks with Wake Forest University Agroforestry professor Miles Silman at CINCIA's agroforestry test plot in Distrito Laberinto, Madre de Dios. CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
Rio Laberinto, Distrito de Laberinto, Madre de Dios. The golden color of the mud and water is caused by the disturbance of sediment and contamination of gas and mercury from gold mining in the region. Once in the water, mercury turns into methylmercury which is absorbed into the body six times faster than regular mercury. Mercury poisoning affects the nervous system, kidneys, liver and brain function. three out of four residents of Madre de Dios have toxic levels of mercury.
Translator and logistics coordinator Aldo Villanueva catches a drone near La Pampa, a major illegal mining town, after it captures images of wide spread environmental degradation from mining.
Agroforestry specialist Francisco Roman from CINCIA heads up the Rio Laberinto towards CINCIA's agroforestry test plot. CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
CINCIA agroforestry specialist Freddie Polo flys a drone over their agroforestry test plot in Distrito Laberinto. CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
Boatmen wait on the Rio Laberinto to transport Wake Forest University students to Puerto Rosario de Laberinto, Madre de Dios.
Essentialy all foodstuffs unloaded at Puerto Rosario de Laberinto go to illegal miners in the area. The majority of small businesses in Madre de Dios depend on the unregulated mining for survival.
Brazil nut shells are cooked at CINCIA's biochar facility outside Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios. Biochar is a carbon rich organic material that helps soil retain nutrients and water.
Community Leader "Lucho" and CINCIA agroforestry technicians overlook an future agroforestry plot on the Kotsimba Community's land. The Kostismba Native Community is working with Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA to resotre land denuded by mining with agroforestry polycropp9ing to rejuvenate the soil and creat habiitat.
The Kostismba Native Community is working with Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA to resotre land denuded by mining with agroforestry polycropping. Agroforestry technicians from Amazon Aid's partner organization CINCIA survey land degraded by gold mining with small portable drones. By taking hundreds of aerial photos of the terrain, the team is able to "stitch-together" a composite map of the area, allowing them to measure plant density, hydrographic features, general topography and soil types. In this specific parcel they plan on reforesting approximately 10 hectares of land with both native and exotic tree and plant species to rejuvenate the soil and provide habitat for local fauna.
The Kostismba Native Community is working with Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA to resotre land denuded by mining with agroforestry polycropping. Agroforestry technicians from Amazon Aid's partner organization CINCIA survey land degraded by gold mining with small portable drones. By taking hundreds of aerial photos of the terrain, the team is able to "stitch-together" a composite map of the area, allowing them to measure plant density, hydrographic features, general topography and soil types. In this specific parcel they plan on reforesting approximately 10 hectares of land with both native and exotic tree and plant species to rejuvenate the soil and provide habitat for local fauna.
Agroforestry technicians from Amazon Aid's partner organization CINCIA work with biochar to rejuvenate land degraded by gold mining in Madre De Dios, Peru. Biochar is made from burning Brazil nut husks to create a carbon rich organic material that helps soil retain nutrients and moisture.
At a 2 hectare test plot in Madre de Dios Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
Drone technician Max Messinger from Wake Forest University runs the new drone project at Amazon Aid's partner organization CINCIA. The drone will be used to survey land affected by mining and to make composite maps around Madre de Dios to help with future agroforestry efforts.
Australian soil scientist David Mclalan tests mercury samples at CINCIA's mercury monitoring facility outside of Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru. Used in the amalgamation process of gold mining, mercury turns into methylmercury once it enters the water. This compound is absorbed into the body six times faster than regular mercury. Mercury poisoning affects the nervous system, kidneys, liver and brain function. three out of four residents of Madre de Dios have toxic levels of mercury.
Agroforestry technicians from Amazon Aid's partner organization CINCIA evaluate the effects of biochar on their agroforestry test plot in Madre de Dios, Peru. Biochar is made from burning Brazil nut husks to create a carbon rich organic material that helps soil retain nutrients and moisture.
Miles Silman, agroforestry professor from Wake Forest University, explores CINCIA's agroforestry test plot in Distrito de Laberinto, Madre de Dios. CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.
The Kostismba Native Community is working with Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA to resotre land denuded by mining with agroforestry polycropping of tree and plant species to rejuvenate the soil and provide habitat for local fauna.
At a 2 hectare test plot in Madre de Dios Amazon Aid Foundation's partner organization CINCIA expericments with a wide variety of plant species to determine which species work best together to rejuvenate land damaged by mining.