Brazil Utilizes Forensic Science to Combat Illegal Gold Mining in the Amazon
Brazil is employing forensic science to address illegal gold mining in the Amazon, a significant threat to the rainforest and Indigenous communities. The National Institute of Criminalistics in Brasilia has established a 'gold lab' to analyze samples and trace their origins, determining if they were illegally mined from protected areas. This initiative aims to curb deforestation and mercury contamination caused by illegal mining. A federal court in Para has ordered institutions to enforce control and traceability of gold from mines to markets, while federal prosecutors have filed a lawsuit for better oversight of mining permits. 
