This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Antonio Machado Allison is a professor of Environment and Latin American Studies at Wesleyan University.
Venezuela鈥檚 Orinoco River Basin is a wild land of lush forests, grasslands and a vast delta of jungle wetlands teeming with wildlife. River dolphins and endangered Orinoco crocodiles ply its waterways, and over 1,000 freshwater fish and bird species can be found there.
During the rainy season, the Orinoco is the world鈥檚 by discharge. But this region 鈥� which Venezuelans 鈥� is facing a growing environmental disaster.
Over millions of years, organic and geological processes left the fragile region rich in both biodiversity and mineral resources, including the and valuable metals such as gold, iron and of niobium and tantalum for the tech industry.
Illegal mining that accelerated under former President Nicol谩s Maduro over the past decade is tearing up , with little sign of stopping. Now, the Trump administration is pushing to drilling in Venezuela, where the industry has a long history of oil spills and neglected equipment, with little discussion of protecting the environment.
Mining is expanding in the forests
Mineral exploitation in Venezuela is as old as the country. Historically, a few big mines were run by international companies and mining was controlled. But in the early 2010s, the government of former President Hugo Ch谩vez and hinted that the government would open small-scale mining to the public.
In 2016, Maduro, facing falling oil production and scrambling for revenue, followed through, declaring a large part of the Orinoco River Basin to be the Orinoco Mining Arc, where mining would be prioritized. The region encompasses about 12% of Venezuela, including and .
Today, tens of thousands of people mine in the jungle, living in often squalid, violent and contaminated conditions.
known as 鈥渃olectivos鈥� or 鈥渟indicatos鈥� with . have also spilled over the border into the region.
The mining operations cut down forests and remove soil. Toxic materials, including mercury used to extract gold from ore, pour into rivers, and and that rely on local fish and wildfire.
The mines also promote the and . Evidence of , including , have been documented by several public and private organizations.
Oil and the law
The same Orinoco River Basin holds part of the world鈥檚 . After the Trump administration seized Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, and arrested him on drug trafficking charges, it said the U.S would . But what exactly that will mean and how the oil industry will respond remains to be seen.
By law, oil and other natural and mineral resources in Venezuela. Oil exploration, extraction and commercialization are carried out through a system called 鈥渃oncessions鈥� 鈥� contracts between the government and national or foreign private companies. In exchange for access to resources, the country receives an income, or tribute, from the profits generated.
However, of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, approved in 1999, also clearly states that 鈥渢he State shall protect the environment, biological and genetic diversity, ecological processes, national parks and natural monuments, and other areas of particular ecological importance.鈥�
Analysts estimate that rebuilding the industry, which has been and , . It would likely mean more roads in a region already and put more of the environment and water at risk. The region鈥檚 heavy .
In the 1920s, oil drilling helped lift the economy of Venezuela, previously a very poor, largely agrarian country. The country had been plagued with malaria and other tropical diseases, the population was poorly educated, and there were continuous fights among military strongmen, known as 鈥渃audillos.鈥� Oil brought in foreign investment, making Venezuela the in the world by 1928 and its largest exporter.
In 1976, with the country鈥檚 economy heavily dependent on oil, Venezuela . Foreign industries could partner with the state oil company, but only if the government held the controlling share of the joint ventures. Boom times , and oil price drops became disastrous for the economy.
The on Venezuela in 2015 over drug trafficking and human rights abuses, and those sanctions increased during the Trump administrations. Between the , Venezuela鈥檚 , and with it, the national economy.
Venezuelans鈥� future
With the removal of Maduro, is in charge of the government.
In January, she but keeps ownership of the hydrocarbon reserves with the nation. She also met with U.S. officials in March and pledged to that would give foreign companies access to Venezuelan minerals.
The shift in leadership from Maduro鈥檚 regime, however. In her past roles, including as minister of foreign affairs and economy and as vice president, Rodriguez was involved in at a time when criminal activity and illegal mining were rapidly expanding there, environmental groups point out.
Studies of satellite data tracking deforestation suggest that Venezuela (480 square kilometers) to gold mining alone from 2018 to 2025. Mining has , including .
Venezuela, meanwhile, is that led to the country.
The , and . As the , that is likely to help, but the country has many problems to overcome.
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