Cases / Mining · Venezuela · 2016–2026
Gold mining inside Canaima National Park
Nature's voice · report
SOS Orinoco estimated in 2026 that mining directly affected 1,852 hectares of my Canaima National Park, using Planet Labs imagery.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Disputed
Recorded
- I lost 300 hectares of natural cover in 2024–2025, 72 of them at the foot of Chimantá tepui, according to SOS Orinoco. El Diario
- More than 49 dredging rafts were active on my Caroní River inside the park in 2026, according to SOS Orinoco. El Diario
- The UN Fact-Finding Mission wrote in 2022 that mining in my park has "devastating environmental and sociocultural impacts". UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela
- 300 hectares of my forest were lost. estimateNatural cover lost 2024–2025, including 72 ha at the foot of Chimantá tepui (SOS Orinoco).
People
- 1 people died.A Pemon man died in the 8 December 2018 shooting; two were injured.
- 2 people were injured.8 December 2018 shooting.
What the record lacks: 1 none on record · 1 not disclosed · 1 self-reported only · 3 disputed · 1 unclear See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
How much of Canaima National Park mining has affected
- Communities and civil society NGO estimate cited by the UN Fact-Finding Mission: 1,033 hectares affected as of 2020. UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela
- Communities and civil society SOS Orinoco / World Heritage Watch (January 2026): More than 1,500 hectares affected. Mongabay Latam
- Communities and civil society SOS Orinoco (July 2026): 1,852 hectares directly affected, from Planet Labs imagery. El Diario
- Government and regulators Government of Venezuela (as reported by SOS Orinoco): Described the impact as insignificant. El Diario
Mining has expanded inside Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bolívar state where mining is prohibited. NGO estimates of the area affected rose from 1,033 hectares (2020) to 1,852 hectares (2026).
1,852 ha estimateArea directly affected by mining in Canaima National Park, SOS Orinoco estimate (Planet Labs imagery)
NGO estimate reported in July 2026. The NGO estimate cited by the UN Fact-Finding Mission for 2020 was 1,033 ha.
NGO estimate reported in July 2026. The NGO estimate cited by the UN Fact-Finding Mission for 2020 was 1,033 ha.
Status As of October 2026: SOS Orinoco reported 1,852 hectares affected (July 2026); no court case or remediation budget on record; UNESCO monitoring mission blocked since September 2022 per SOS Orinoco.
What?
Mining has expanded inside Canaima National Park, a World Heritage Site in Bolívar state, with NGO estimates of the area affected rising from 1,033 hectares (2020) to 1,852 hectares (2026). El Diario
Where?
Canaima National Park, Gran Sabana municipality, Bolívar state; about 3,000,000 hectares of Pemon territory in the Caroní and Kukenán basins. UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela
When?
Mining expanding since 2016; park listed in 1994; shooting on 8 December 2018; latest NGO estimate in July 2026. El Diario
Who?
Gained
None on recordLost
None on recordHarmed
- Canaima National Park — 1,852 hectares directly affected by mining (SOS Orinoco estimate, 2026) El Diario
- Pemon community — One Pemon man died and two people were injured when DGCIM agents opened fire on Indigenous artisanal miners on 8 December 2018 UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)
- Caroní River inside the park — More than 49 active dredging rafts (SOS Orinoco, 2026) El Diario
Why?
The UN Mission linked the spread of mining into protected areas to the post-2016 mining expansion; SOS Orinoco said in 2020 that the Maduro government had no political interest in banning the operations. SOS Orinoco
How?
Dredging rafts on the Caroní and mining sites inside the park, mapped by satellite imagery. El Diario
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
Canaima National Park (about 3,000,000 hectares, Gran Sabana municipality, Bolívar state, Pemon territory) was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela wrote in 2022 that since 2016 mining "has extended into protected areas, including. Canaima and Caura national parks, with devastating environmental and sociocultural impacts". The park lies outside the formal Orinoco Mining Arc.
SOS Orinoco reported to UNESCO and IUCN on 16 July 2018 and updated its account on 14 March 2020, stating that mining "continues to expand inside Canaima National Park". On 8 December 2018 agents of the military counter-intelligence directorate (DGCIM) opened fire on Indigenous artisanal miners inside the park; one Pemon man died and two were injured. The UN Mission found reasonable grounds to believe the attack was directed against unarmed Indigenous miners; official statements had said the agents were acting against illegal mining and were attacked.
Area estimates are by NGOs: 1,033 hectares affected as of 2020 (cited by the UN Mission); more than 1,500 hectares (SOS Orinoco and World Heritage Watch, January 2026); and 1,852 hectares directly affected, from Planet Labs imagery, with 300 hectares of natural cover lost in 2024–2025, 72 of them at the foot of Chimantá tepui, and more than 49 active dredging rafts on the Caroní River inside the park (SOS Orinoco, July 2026). SOS Orinoco put the rise in mining since 2016 at 1,300%. MAAP reported mining deforestation expanding in Canaima in 2017–2020 without giving a hectare total.
In February 2023 the armed forces announced a reforestation campaign in Canaima and Yapacana with the Ecosocialism and Water ministries; no budget was stated. SOS Orinoco and World Heritage Watch said in January 2026 that a UNESCO reactive monitoring mission had not been able to enter since September 2022. The World Heritage Watch Report 2026 was published on 24 June 2026, and SOS Orinoco spoke at the 48th World Heritage Committee session in Busan on 21 July 2026.
- 1994Canaima listed as a World Heritage Site
- 2018SOS Orinoco report to UNESCO and IUCN (16 Jul); DGCIM agents fire on Indigenous artisanal miners inside the park, one Pemon man dies (8 Dec)
- 2020SOS Orinoco update (14 Mar): mining continues to expand inside the park
- 2022UN Fact-Finding Mission findings published (20 Sep); UNESCO reactive monitoring mission unable to enter since September, per SOS Orinoco
- 2023Armed forces announce reforestation campaign in Canaima and Yapacana (Feb)
- 2026World Heritage Watch Report 2026 (24 Jun); SOS Orinoco statement at the 48th World Heritage Committee (21 Jul)
What was said
Claims, in the words of those who made them.
“has extended into protected areas, including. Canaima and Caura national parks, with devastating environmental and sociocultural impacts”
“continues to expand inside Canaima National Park”
“rather than diminish, continues to accelerate”
“the Maduro regime has no political interest in banning these mining operations”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
How much of Canaima National Park mining has affected
Communities and civil society
NGO estimate cited by the UN Fact-Finding Mission
1,033 hectares affected as of 2020.
UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on VenezuelaCommunities and civil society
SOS Orinoco / World Heritage Watch (January 2026)
More than 1,500 hectares affected.
Mongabay LatamCommunities and civil society
SOS Orinoco (July 2026)
1,852 hectares directly affected, from Planet Labs imagery.
El DiarioGovernment and regulators
Government of Venezuela (as reported by SOS Orinoco)
Described the impact as insignificant.
El DiarioThe 8 December 2018 shooting of Indigenous artisanal miners inside the park
Government and regulators
Venezuelan authorities
The agents were combating illegal mining and were attacked.
UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)International bodies
UN Fact-Finding Mission
Found reasonable grounds to believe the attack was directed against unarmed Indigenous miners.
UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)How it looked
What was shown, beside what was recorded.
Shown
- The government described the impact in the park as insignificant, as reported by SOS Orinoco; no direct official statement is quoted.Government of Venezuela, as reported by SOS Orinoco via El Diario · El Diario
- Official statements on the 8 December 2018 incident said agents were combating illegal mining and were attacked.Venezuelan authorities, as summarised by the UN Fact-Finding Mission · UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)
Recorded
- SOS Orinoco (Planet Labs imagery, 2026): 1,852 hectares directly affected by mining; 300 hectares of natural cover lost in 2024–2025, 72 hectares at the foot of Chimantá tepui; more than 49 active dredging rafts on the Caroní inside the park; mining up 1,300% since 2016.
- SOS Orinoco and World Heritage Watch (January 2026): more than 1,500 hectares affected.
- An NGO estimate cited by the UN Mission put the area affected at 1,033 hectares as of 2020.
- On 8 December 2018 DGCIM agents opened fire on Indigenous artisanal miners inside the park; one Pemon man died and two were injured.
- MAAP #155 reported mining deforestation expanding in Canaima in 2017–2020, and a combined loss of more than 22,000 hectares from all causes in the Caura, Canaima and Yapacana national parks.
Who gained
Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.
Reached nature or the ground
Not published
No figure published.
Gained elsewhere
Not totalled
Currency: · Window: . All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.
Responses on record
- venezuela-gov (2018-12): Official statements on the 8 December 2018 incident said agents were combating illegal mining and were attacked (summary by the UN Fact-Finding Mission). · UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2022–2022Outcome not on recordUN Fact-Finding Mission finding on the 8 December 2018 DGCIM attackUN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela · International court · UN Fact-Finding Mission (finding) → DGCIM agents (names not given)
The Mission found reasonable grounds to believe the attack was directed against unarmed Indigenous miners. No court proceeding is reported. UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net)
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What nature saw
Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
Area affected
1,852 ha
SOS Orinoco estimate, 2026 (1,033 ha cited by the UN Mission for 2020)
Dredging rafts
more than 49
Active on the Caroní inside the park, per SOS Orinoco, 2026
Natural cover lost
300 ha
2024–2025, per SOS Orinoco
Reforestation budget
None on record
February 2023 armed forces campaign
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Disputed How much of Canaima National Park mining has affected
Court
- Unclear UN Fact-Finding Mission finding on the 8 December 2018 DGCIM attack: outcome not on record.
Accounts
- Disputed The 8 December 2018 shooting of Indigenous artisanal miners inside the park
Record
- Disputed Disputed: the area affected, 1,033 hectares (NGO estimate cited for 2020), more than 1,500 hectares (January 2026) and 1,852 hectares (July 2026); all are NGO estimates and differ by method and date.
- None on record None on record: a court case on the environmental damage in Canaima National Park.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the budget of the February 2023 armed forces reforestation campaign in Canaima and Yapacana.
- Self-reported only Self-reported only: SOS Orinoco and World Heritage Watch said a UNESCO reactive monitoring mission had been unable to enter the park since September 2022 and attributed the blockage to Delcy Rodríguez.
Did the harm stop?
No end of harm is recorded. SOS Orinoco reported in July 2026 that mining kept expanding in the park.
Who paid?
None on record: no remediation payment or fund for the park.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers✓ International bodies
Press and investigations
Communities and civil society
- Update: Current Gold Mining Situation in 2020 at Canaima National ParkSOS Orinoco · 2020-03-14
- World Heritage Watch Report 2026 (Full Report)SOS Orinoco · 2026-06-24
- MAAP #155: Deforestation Hotspots in the Venezuelan AmazonMAAP / Amazon Conservation · 2022-06-14
International bodies
- The human rights situation in the Arco Minero del Orinoco region and other areas of the Bolívar state (A/HRC/51/CRP.2, advance unedited version, mirror copy)UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela · 2022-09-20
- A/HRC/51/43 (report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela)UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela (via ecoi.net) · 2022-11-17
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