Economic analysts claim that mining as an economic activity is an essential part of Roraima’s history and culture, it is also a fundamental way of income for many families, thus, simply expelling illegal miners from the indigenous areas would create another crisis in the state. This would also indicate that it will be difficult for the federal government to fight this illegal practice, which at the same time is related to cases of hunger and disease among the Yanomami Indigenous people.
Challenge
To solve the humanitarian crisis in the indigenous reserve, the central authorities must create a strategy to combat the illegal activity, with police operations and legislative changes that facilitate gold tracking. But at the same time, it needs to deal with the fact that mining is the only source of income for thousands of people in the north of the country.
First Steps
The government is now trying to remove the illegal miners from the reserve and destroy their machines and equipment. Planes, choppers, trucks, tractors and other materials have been seized and exploded. Secretary for Access to Justice, Marivaldo Pereira, said that the initial focus is to inhibit the trade in gold from prohibited extraction and to discuss a plan for the removal of miners from indigenous territories.
However, this is no easy task. In the Yanomami reserve alone, the federal government has to withdraw from 20 to 50 thousand miners. Next week, the Armed Forces is involved in this operational effort.
Important for Roraima’s Economy
The indigenous ores are vastly important for the economy of Roraima. Although mining is illegal, the export of ores from Roraima, which in theory does not have a single mine, has escalated. By 2020, Yanomami gold represented almost 20% of exports in the state’s trade balance. Last year, in the midst of police operations, gold disappeared from the balance and was replaced by cassiterite, whose exports totaled more than 690 tons.
Solution
Local politicians claim that the solution is to offer alternatives to get people out of mining. In a time of economic crisis, many people join the activity. The governor of Roraima, Antonio Denarium (PP), proposed this Tuesday (7) – during a meeting with Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD) – the creation of social programs for miners who leave the Yanomami Indigenous Land, in the state.
Denarium stated that it is necessary to create mechanisms so that miners can leave. He also proposed the creation of new mining areas in a prospector’s cooperative, outside the indigenous area.
