Informal, ilegal, artesanal, tradicional, ancestral: desentrañando el entramado de los extractivismos por el oro en los ríos sudamericanos
Informal, illegal, artisanal, traditional, ancestral: Unraveling the web of extractivism for gold in South American rivers

Summary/Abstract: Alluvial gold mining corresponds to extractivism. Beyond its different labels, such as informal, illegal, artisan, traditional or ancestral, an analysis following the modes of appropriation perspective shows that it is a diverse and heterogeneous set. Considering three key criteria, twelve different modes were identified. Some highlights of these modes are presented, and a case study in southern Colombia is offered as an example. We estimate that more than 1.3 million people participate in these activities in at least eight South American countries. These activities have severe social and environmental impacts, they are geographically extensive in a patchy pattern, and are frequently associated with human rights violations and violence. This heterogeneity affects the proposals for alternatives.

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