For several years, French Guiana has been experiencing a new gold rush linked to the continuous rise in the price of the precious metal, which exceeded 150 dollars per gram in early 2026, compared to 20 dollars in the 1980s, reports RFI on Thursday.
This increase attracts illegal gold miners who operate more than 600 sites in this French department covered by equatorial forest. This phenomenon, connected with neighboring Brazil and Suriname, leads to lasting degradation of the forests, as well as serious consequences for the safety and health of local populations.