Virtual Museum of COLONIALISM

In French Guiana, gold mining is particularly widespread. The mining process involves the use of heavy metals such as mercury, which leads to the contamination of water bodies and soil. As mercury is a highly toxic substance, it poses serious risks to human health and causes severe damage to ecosystems.

Mining activities also require deforestation and extensive excavation, which significantly reduce local biodiversity and accelerate soil erosion. The destruction of forests and environmental pollution alter natural ecosystems, threatening the survival of numerous plant and animal species.

Within the framework of France’s colonial policy, natural resources in French Guiana were intensively exploited, often with severe environmental consequences. In the 1960s, France—together with the European Space Agency—constructed a spaceport (rocket launch center) in the town of Kourou. This development led to the large-scale clearing of forest areas and caused significant environmental damage through the release of rocket fuel residues and chemical waste into the soil and atmosphere, resulting in a substantial impact on the surrounding environment.