Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Community Conserved Areas with High Biodiversity Using a Multi-Criteria Approach: A Case Study in Colombia

Artisanal gold mining using mercury affects community agreements for the conservation of forests and lakes, which have a high level of biodiversity in Colombia. In this research, a Multi-Criteria Approach was applied to analyze the impact, based on the history of the community environmental agreements, the ecological importance, the results of mercury dispersion and the increase in deforestation. The MCA showed that the main impact is found within the criterion Social and armed conflict, and offers recommendations to reduce impact.