Gold mining in Yapacana National Park and the 2023 military evictions
- More than 400 hectares were cleared in each of 2021 and 2022, according to MAAP. MAAP / Amazon Conservation
- Mining resumed on top of my Yapacana tepui in 2025, and 22.4 hectares were cleared north of it between March 2024 and August 2025, according to MAAP. MAAP / Amazon Conservation
- 2,240 hectares of my forest were lost.Cumulative mining deforestation in the park (MAAP #234; a graph discussion gives 2,250 ha).
- More than 400 hectares of my forest were lost.New mining deforestation in each of 2021 and 2022.
- 37 hectares of my forest were lost.New mining deforestation in 2024.
- 22.4 hectares of my forest were lost.North of the tepui, March 2024–August 2025.
- Per Ministry of Defence 2 people died.13 September 2023 clash.
- Per Ministry of Defence 6 people were injured.13 September 2023 clash.
- Government and regulators Ministry of Defence of Venezuela: 400 troops evicted people and dismantled and destroyed more than 500 structures in September 2023. El Diario
- Researchers MAAP / Amazon Conservation: Recorded 37 ha of new deforestation in 2024, mining resuming on top of the tepui in 2025 and 22.4 ha of new mining north of the tepui between March 2024 and August 2025. MAAP / Amazon Conservation
Mining in Yapacana National Park, Amazonas state, covered 2,240 hectares by October 2025 according to MAAP. A military operation in September 2023 dismantled structures and detained 51 people; MAAP recorded renewed mining on the tepui in 2025.
MAAP #234, 14 October 2025; a graph discussion in the same analysis gives 2,250 ha.
Status As of October 2026: MAAP #234 (October 2025) recorded renewed mining; a criminal investigation for mining and ecocide was reported in September 2023; no outcome on record.
- People evicted and detained — 51 people detained (37 Colombians, 9 Venezuelans, 2 Brazilians, 2 Ecuadorians, 1 Peruvian); more than 500 structures dismantled or destroyed, per the Ministry of Defence El Diario
- Yapacana National Park — 2,240 hectares of cumulative mining deforestation MAAP / Amazon Conservation
- People in the 13 September 2023 clash — Two dead and six injured, per the Ministry of Defence El Diario
What happened
Yapacana National Park lies in the Atabapo municipality of Amazonas state and includes Yapacana tepui (1,345 m). Mining has been banned there since Decree 269 of 1989, and the park lies outside the formal Orinoco Mining Arc. MAAP, using Planet/NICFI imagery with SOS Orinoco, recorded more than 400 hectares of new mining deforestation in each of 2021 and 2022, and a cumulative 2,240 hectares by October 2025.
A military operation against mining on the tepui took place in December 2022. In September 2023 the armed forces (FANB) carried out "Operación Autana 2023"; a clash on 13 September 2023 in the Cacique del Cerro Yapacana sector left two dead and six injured, according to the Ministry of Defence. The ministry said 400 troops evicted people and dismantled and destroyed more than 500 structures. FANB reported 51 people detained (37 Colombians, 9 Venezuelans, 2 Brazilians, 2 Ecuadorians and 1 Peruvian); outcomes are not on record.
A Venezuelan court authorised FANB to dismantle camps and structures, according to FANB commander Domingo Hernández Lárez, and a criminal investigation for mining and ecocide was reported on 18 September 2023; the court was not named.
MAAP #234 recorded 37 hectares of new deforestation in 2024, mining resuming on top of the tepui in 2025 (0.09 hectares) and 22.4 hectares of new mining north of the tepui between March 2024 and August 2025. MAAP wrote that renewed activity "raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement and the real capacity of the state", and noted a permanent National Guard post at the park entrance.
- 1989Mining banned in the area by Decree 269
- 2021More than 400 ha of new mining deforestation (each of 2021 and 2022)
- 2022Military operation against mining on the tepui (Dec); 2,190 ha cumulative at the intervention
- 2023"Operación Autana 2023"; clash on 13 Sep; criminal investigation for mining and ecocide reported (18 Sep); 51 detained (21 Sep)
- 202437 ha of new mining deforestation
- 2025Mining resumes on top of the tepui; MAAP #234 published (14 Oct)
What was said
“raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement and the real capacity of the state”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
400 troops evicted people and dismantled and destroyed more than 500 structures in September 2023.
El DiarioRecorded 37 ha of new deforestation in 2024, mining resuming on top of the tepui in 2025 and 22.4 ha of new mining north of the tepui between March 2024 and August 2025.
MAAP / Amazon ConservationHow it looked
Shown
- The Ministry of Defence presented the operation as the eviction, dismantling and destruction of more than 500 clandestine structures by 400 troops, with two dead and six injured in the 13 September clash.Ministry of Defence of Venezuela · El Diario
- FANB commander Domingo Hernández Lárez said a court had authorised FANB to dismantle camps and structures.FANB commander Domingo Hernández Lárez, via El Diario · El Diario
Recorded
- Cumulative mining deforestation in the park was 2,240 hectares; 2,190 hectares at the time of the late-2022 intervention.
- Mining resumed on top of Yapacana tepui in 2025 (0.09 hectares); cumulative deforestation on the tepui summit was 9.3 hectares.
- 22.4 hectares of new mining deforestation north of the tepui between March 2024 and August 2025; 37 hectares in 2024.
- FANB detained 51 people: 37 Colombians, 9 Venezuelans, 2 Brazilians, 2 Ecuadorians and 1 Peruvian.
- Fuel for the mining is officially distributed by PDVSA under military supervision; MAAP notes fuel may also come from Colombia.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- fanb (2023-09-21): Said 400 troops evicted people and dismantled and destroyed more than 500 structures; reported 2 dead and 6 injured in the 13 September 2023 clash and 51 people detained. · El Diario
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2023–OngoingCriminal investigation for mining and ecocide, YapacanaVenezuelan court (not named) · Criminal · Venezuelan authorities → Not named; 51 people detained in September 2023
A court authorised FANB to dismantle camps and structures, according to FANB commander Domingo Hernández Lárez; the investigation for mining and ecocide was reported on 18 September 2023. FANB reported 51 detained; outcomes are not on record. El Diario
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Disputed Whether the military operations ended mining in the park
Record
- Disputed Figures differ: the Ministry of Defence gave two dead and six injured in the 13 September 2023 clash; other reports give up to 10 dead. Reports of the number of people evicted range from 8,980 to more than 14,000.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the outcome of proceedings against the 51 people detained in September 2023.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the name of the court that authorised the dismantling of camps and structures.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the number of items of equipment actually destroyed; only categories appear in the court order.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: any money figure for the mining or the operation; fuel is officially distributed by PDVSA under military supervision.
Did the harm stop?
Not stopped: MAAP recorded 37 hectares of new deforestation in 2024 and mining resuming on top of the tepui in 2025, after the 2022 and 2023 operations.
Who paid?
None on record: no restoration payment or fund. The armed forces announced a reforestation campaign in February 2023 with no budget stated.
Sources
Press and investigations
Communities and civil society
- MAAP #234: Illegal gold mining in Yapacana National ParkMAAP / Amazon Conservation · 2025-10-14
Connected cases
- Gold mining inside Canaima National Park Venezuela · 2016–2026 Related matter
- MAAP / Amazon Conservation (NGO) — here: Deforestation analysis (MAAP #234); there: Forest-loss analysis
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Imagery partner; there: NGO reporting the extent of mining
- Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) (Public authority) — here: Carried out the 2022 and 2023 operations; there: Announced reforestation campaign
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Park authority and responsible state
- Orinoco Mining Arc: decree, state gold business and measured harm Venezuela · 2011–2026 Related matter
- MAAP / Amazon Conservation (NGO) — here: Deforestation analysis (MAAP #234); there: Forest-loss analysis
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Imagery partner; there: NGO monitoring mining in the south
- Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) (Public authority) — here: Carried out the 2022 and 2023 operations; there: Armed forces with powers under the decree; military-owned companies
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Issued Decree 2.248; mining ministry and state companies
- Las Cristinas gold project: 2008 permit denial in the Imataca reserve, Crystallex ICSID award and court-ordered sale of CITGO's parent Venezuela · 2008–2026 Related matter
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Imagery partner; there: Environmental organisation; reports on Las Claritas
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Respondent; judgment debtor
- Tumeremo killings and armed control of gold mines in Bolívar Venezuela · 2015–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Responsible state; Public Prosecutor, security forces
- Venezuelan gold exports to Turkey and the UAE and US sanctions on Minerven and the Central Bank Venezuela · 2018–2026 Related matter
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Exporting state
- Canaima National Park: fire suppression for the Guri catchment, mining pressure and the UNESCO decisions Venezuela · 1981–2026
- SOS Orinoco (NGO) — here: Imagery partner; there: NGO measuring mining inside the park
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: State Party to the World Heritage Convention
- Brisas gold-copper project: 2008 revocation of the environmental permit in Imataca and Gold Reserve's ICSID award Venezuela · 2007–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Respondent
- Guri dam, drought and the 2010, 2016 and 2019 power crises: catchment, emergency contracts and prosecutions Venezuela · 2003–2023
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Decreed the electric emergency; attributed the 2019 blackout to sabotage
- Lake Maracaibo chronic oil leaks Venezuela · 2010–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Announced the July 2023 clean-up plan and pipeline replacement
- Lake Valencia: rising level, sewage and compensation for flooded homes Venezuela · 1976–2023
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Funded the clean-up programmes and the Pao-Cachinche transfer
- Nissos Amorgos tanker spill, Gulf of Venezuela, 1997, and the US$60 million environmental-damage judgment Venezuela · 1997–2014
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Claimant State; awarded US$60 million
- Rusoro Mining award for the El Callao gold mines: Venezuela's unquantified natural-resource counterclaim and Rusoro's role in the CITGO sale Venezuela · 2008–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Respondent; counterclaimant
- Siembra Minera: the merged Brisas–Cristinas area in the Orinoco Mining Arc, the 2022 revocation and Gold Reserve's new arbitration Venezuela · 2016–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Respondent
- Unpaid Venezuelan contributions to the IOPC Funds, 2019–2026 Venezuela · 2019–2026
- Government of Venezuela (Government) — here: Ministry of Defence statements; National Guard post at the park entrance; there: Member State of the 1992 Fund; Ambassador in London approached by the Director