The Amazon rainforest is often described as the planet’s “heart and lungs” — and for good reason. Its rich biodiversity sustains life around the globe, from regulating the climate to providing lifesaving pharmaceuticals.

Josh West, professor of Earth sciences and environmental studies, has devoted his career to driving sustainability in this region. His current research focuses on the impact of artisanal gold mining — a term that sounds innocuous but often masks a devastating practice.

In their avid hunt for gold, thousands of small-scale mining operations cut deep gashes into the Amazon, leaving behind oversized piles of barren sand and stagnant ponds. Churning up the land threatens the region’s biodiversity, pollutes rivers with toxic mercury and releases potent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

“It’s like burning down the house and tearing up the foundation,” West says.

Using high-tech mapping and remote sensors, West and his team are pinpointing the areas hardest hit by mining and identifying where restoration efforts can have the biggest impact. Their goal: to turn scarred land back into thriving rainforest.

It’s not easy. Commercial interests and transnational political barriers often stand in the way. But West remains steadfast in his determination to help protect the Amazon — and to inspire others to do the same.

“Losing the rainforest would be a devastating loss for humanity,” he says. “The Amazon sustains life far beyond its borders.”