Illegal mining activity located on indigenous land

a critical analysis based on the principles of latin american environmental constitutionalism

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the limits of mining activities in indigenous lands in the Amazon region, based on Latin American environmental constitutionalism and environmental rationality. Thus, guided by a dialectical methodological perspective, through documentary and bibliographic analysis, the objective was to describe the history of the search for gold in the Amazon territory, the historical process of capitalization of indigenous communities' spaces, and the current situation of mining in the region. The study also examines the relationship between neoliberalism, modern rationality, and environmental degradation, particularly to delineate the theoretical differences between neoliberal rationality and environmental rationality. Furthermore, the notions of extractivism, neo-extractivism, post-extractivism, bom-viver, rights of nature, and giro ecoterritorial were addressed, whenever possible, promoting a contextualized study within the neoliberal capitalist system and in light of the theoretical framework of Latin American political ecology. Finally, it is concluded that the limits of mining activities should be connected to the need to develop an economic productivity guided by a new environmental rationality and the defense of rights of nature.