Over fifty dedicated people from around the world gathered to advance collaborative solutions to the challenges of gold mining in one of the world’s most vital biomes.

The Amazon Gold Alliance (AGA), a collaborative innovation network convened by Amazon Aid, held its first in-person Summit in Lima, Peru, on April 21 – 22, 2026. Nearly 60 gold value chain stakeholders from across the globe spent two full days working together on one of the region’s most urgent challenges: gold mining across the Amazon Basin.

The convening brought together six Indigenous leaders from across the Amazon, alongside jewelers, environmental and financial crime experts, civil society and NGO representatives, government officials, and scientists studying mercury contamination. These stakeholders, who each bring distinct experiences and expertise, had an opportunity to work together to reinforce the foundation of ideas and practices that bind the Amazon Gold Alliance together.

Employing a collaborative innovation methodology facilitated by CoCreative, the Summit was structured around five intentions: connect, learn, align, make and inspire. Attendees connected through deep listening: to an opening ceremony led by an Indigenous leader from Madre de Dios, to one another in paired conversations on origin and ancestry, and to a listening circle in which Indigenous leaders described what is happening in their communities.

Participants learned through a creative storytelling exercise focused on the current status and realities of gold mining in each of the Amazon countries represented at the convening (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela), surfacing differences and commonalities across the regional landscape as well as opportunities for collective action. After insightful presentations, the group actively reflected on progress of AGA’s five initiatives (Illicit Mapping, Financial Integrity, Market Activation, Regional Coordination and Pressure Campaign), and collaboratively designed the next steps for each, as well as for the broader network strategy. The newly launched AGA Stewardship Team, established in January 2026 to offer strategic oversight and network governance, also met in person for the very first time during this convening. By the Summit’s close, the room was full of shared insights, relationships, and collaborative pathways toward action.

The Summit was followed by a field visit to both witness the impacts of Amazon gold mining first-hand and to see what immediate interventions are possible. Twenty-five AGA members travelled to Puerto Maldonado in Madre de Dios, Peru to meet with Pure Earth, Alliance for Responsible Mining and members of the Women’s Mining Network of Madre de Dios – including AMATAF -, who are working on developing artisanal small scale gold mining without mercury and to reforest the land post mining. The experience offered a unique opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and experiences, explore what less destructive mining could look like, deepen collective understanding, and grasp the complexity of these challenges from multiple angles.

“What was just an idea — to launch a collaborative innovation network — has evolved into something our members count on, appreciate, and thrive within. The AGA is not a monolith providing all of the answers. It is a group of stakeholders in the Amazon gold value chain who are committed to working together to make the work go faster and to co-create solutions. The Lima Summit confirmed that this network is real, and that the bonds being formed across countries, sectors, and worldviews are strong enough to carry the work forward.”

— Rachael McGowen, Executive Director, Amazon Aid Foundation

“The conversations in that room were real and urgent. Deep listening was key to grasp the many layers of complexity around this planetary challenge. There are no simple fixes when territories, livelihoods, ecosystems, and supply chains are all at stake at once.”

— Gina D’Amato, Executive Director, Alliance for Responsible Mining

“It was an honor to meet each of the people in the room. I will carry this memory of an extraordinary journey with me for the rest of my life. On behalf of the Urihi Yanomami Association and the forest people, I want to thank the AGA for amplifying the voice of the Amazonian people against mining, to prevent the contamination of the Indigenous People of the Brazilian Amazon. We will continue the fight for survival and for life. The struggle continues”

— Whaihiri Hekurari, Urihi Yanomami Association

Following this first Summit, the collaborative work of the AGA continues, refining its overall strategy, identifying more opportunities for impact, and deepening connections among members. Together the AGA will advance the work across its current five initiatives to achieve its purpose: to lead a shift away from environmentally and socially harmful practices toward systems that ensure human dignity alongside the protection and regeneration of nature.