The price of gold has soared in recent years, surpassing 150 dollars a gram in early 2026 compared to just 20 dollars in the 1980s. This rise has triggered a gold rush in French Guiana, where more than 600 illegal gold panning sites are currently recorded. According to RFI – Amériques, this trafficking is linked to neighboring Brazil and Suriname and poses major problems for the security and health of local populations as well as for the environment.
Illegal gold mining causes severe consequences for the region's inhabitants. Health risks are increasing, particularly due to the mercury used in the extraction process, which pollutes the water and food of local communities.
Impact environnemental
Illegal activities are causing lasting destruction to the equatorial forests of French Guiana. The natural landscape is degraded, thereby threatening local biodiversity and disrupting the ecosystem.
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