Mining for gold

The serious socio-environmental, economic and health impact that mining generates is destructive. These extractive industries have an impact both on water bodies, due to the use of mercury and cyanide, and on the wildlife found in the exploited areas.

However, in some areas such as Río San Juan, both small-scale and industrial mining are restricted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).

In 2017, there was a complaint from Fundación del Río showing that the Indio Maíz Reserve had become an area of ​​interest to extract gold in small scale.

Traces of mining explorations were found around El Diablo hill and in June 2019, based on testimonies from the locals, the existence of mining exploitation (mills) was mentioned in sectors such as La Pimienta and La Haciendita in the core area of ​​Indio-Maíz.