Corcovado National Park, renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, is under severe threat from illegal gold mining operations that are wreaking havoc on its delicate ecosystem. The park’s remote and dense forests have become a haven for criminal groups engaging in these illicit activities, which have reached alarming levels. The lure of high profits, with each gram of illegally mined gold fetching ₡28,000 colones (around $52), has driven a surge of miners into the area, intensifying the threat to the park.
Sergio Torres, head of the Prevention, Control and Protection Program, revealed that miners are using sophisticated equipment, including power plants, power tools and metal detectors, to conduct their operations deep within the park. “We have reports of tunnels being dug inside the National Park, and the use of advanced technology to facilitate illegal mining,” Torres said.
While illegal mining in Corcovado is not a new problem, it has evolved into a highly organized criminal enterprise. Criminal organizations are recruiting workers, often from vulnerable communities, and setting up well-equipped camps deep in the park. These camps enable miners to extract large quantities of gold over extended periods before moving to new locations. “The situation is dire, with minimal support and lack of public security. We urgently need more personnel and resources to address this issue,” Torres emphasized.
The scale of the crisis is highlighted by the fact that 70% of those arrested in connection with illegal mining activities in Corcovado have previous arrest warrants, according to the Prevention, Control, and Protection Program.
Minister of Security Mario Zamora noted that the illegally mined gold does not remain in the area but is transported to other parts of the country and neighboring nations like Nicaragua and Panama, where it enters international markets.
The environmental damage from these illegal activities is severe, with large areas of forest being destroyed and wildlife habitats being irreparably harmed. Immediate action is essential to prevent irreversible damage to this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem.
