Juan Manuel Chavarría Quintero

In the Cauca region of southwestern Colombia, women mineral selectors rummage through heaps of rocks discarded by local mining operations in search of pieces of ore containing small amounts of gold for them to extract. In a new photo story, get a glimpse of the work these women do, the gender gaps they must contend with, and actions the planetGOLD Colombia project plans aimed at overcoming environmental, human health, and gender equality challenges in this area.

Colombia, with the second-highest biodiversity in the world, has become the epicenter of global celebrations on World Environment Day today, which this year revolves around the protection of biodiversity. The country also finds itself ranked fourth in the world for mercury emissions, 94% of which are emitted by the small-scale mining sector. Read about the planetGOLD Colombia project's aim to eliminate and/or avert 20 tonnes of mercury from the environment.

Con un total de 62,125 especies registradas y 91 ecosistemas acuáticos, costeros, marinos e insulares; Colombia se convierte en el epicentro de las celebraciones globales del 5 de junio, fecha del Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente que para este año gira en torno a la protección de la biodiversidad. La riqueza megadiversa del país no compite con su riqueza en oro. Ambos atributos de Colombia centran la atención en la necesidad de impulsar el desarrollo sostenible con la producción y consumo responsable de los recursos naturales.