Venezuela’s environment faces risks as US pushes for oil and minerals, illegal gold mining spreads
Published on: Monday 09 March 2026
Venezuela’s Orinoco River Basin is a wild land of lush forests, grasslands and a vast delta of jungle wetlands teeming with wildlife. During the rainy season, the Orinoco is the world’s third-largest river by discharge. But this region – which Venezuelans rely on for water and hydropower – is facing a growing environmental disaster.
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Venezuela’s environment faces risks as US pushes for oil and minerals, illegal gold mining spreads