Geotecnologias aplicadas na análise da evolução do garimpo na terra indígena Yanomami de 2017 a 2022

Abstract

Irregular gold mining is one of the processes responsible for the vulnerability of indigenous peoples. This is the case of the Yanomami indigenous land, where mining activities have shown a high growth in recent years, being responsible for the health crisis happenning currently. In this context, geoprocessing and remote sensing techniques aid the detection of improperly exploited areas, helping decision-making by organizations responsible for environmental management. The present study aimed to evaluate the evolution of mining in a portion of the Yanomami indigenous land between the years 2017 to 2022. Images from the PLANET satellite were used, obtained by the satellite data access program Norwegian International Climate and Forestry Initiative (NICFI). To identify and quantify the mining areas, the maximum likelihood classification method was used. The satellite image classification and map elaboration were done in the software QGIS 3.22. In 2017, a total of 5.2659 hectares of mining were identified and in 2022 a total of 876.3898 hectares of mining were identified. The biggest increase observed occurred from 2020 to 2021, when the mining area increased by 449.76%. This period coincided with the gold price increase on the international market. The results obtained made it possible to observe the regions in which mining had been present for the longest time, as well as regions where the activity took place more intensely.