Illegal gold mining operations are advancing rapidly through Ecuador's Amazon region, turning protected conservation areas into conflict zones.
According to a report by El Pais, at least seven protected areas have become hotspots for illicit extraction, with park rangers facing direct threats from armed groups seeking to control the territory.
The escalation marks a significant deterioration in security for environmental guardians in the region.
Rangers who once monitored these ecosystems now find themselves cornered by organized criminal networks.
The presence of armed groups suggests a shift from opportunistic mining to coordinated territorial control, raising the stakes for both conservation efforts and local safety.
This development in Ecuador mirrors a wider pattern of governance failures across South America.