Braz. political sci. rev.2025;19(2):e0006.

ISSUE Cover

Brazil’s Journey Against Illegal Mining

Larissa Araujo Rodrigues

DOI: 10.1590/1981-3821202500020006

Brazil faces widespread illegal gold mining, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, with profound environmental, economic, and social implications, as half of the country’s gold output is suspected of having dubious origin. This paper delves into how regulations have shaped Brazil’s gold industry over the years and fostered illegality. It also brings to light recent advancements in this field, such as adopting electronic invoices for the wildcat gold trade and suspending the ‘good faith’ presumption applied to wildcat gold transactions, which previously undermined accountability. Despite these significant strides, the paper emphasizes the ongoing need for measures to regulate the gold industry, bolster law enforcement, and mitigate environmental and social damage.