Large sections of rainforest in the west Colombia department of Choco are being destroyed by illegal miners searching for and extracting gold and platinum, reports Caracol.
Around 300 illegal backhoes, which are large tractors with hydraulic extracting devices attached, are carving their way through the Choco jungle, devastating the ecosystem and leaving little economic benefit for the local population, according to the report.
The municipality of Medio Atrato alone has 40 backhoes operated by groups who are taking resources from the impoverished region.
Choco Govenor Antonio Gomez Rodriguez acknowledged that the illegal mining is a huge problem and said that the department needed additional support to halt the illegal activity, which is also polluting waterways with mercury.
According to locals, the extraction teams are protected by armed groups who spread fear in the area.